Theoretical Framework

Self-Care Deficit Theory by Dorothea Orem

Dorothea E. Orem is described as a pioneer in the
development of distinctive nursing knowledge. Orem
contends that the term care describes nursing in a
most general way, but does not describe nursing in a
way that distinguishes it from other forms of care. She
argues that nursing is distinguished from other human
services and other forms of care by the way in which it
focuses on human beings. She began her work by
seeking an answer to the question of what conditions exist in people when judgments
are made about their need for nursing care. She concluded that the human condition
associated with the need for nursing is the existence of a health-related limitation in the
ability of persons to provide for self the amount and quality of care required. This insight
provided Orem with an answer to the question, What is nursings phenomenon of
concern? She identified nursings special concern as individuals needs for self-care
and their capabilities for meeting these needs.
The theory proposed by Orem is a combination of three theories, i.e. theory of
self care, theory of self care deficit and the theory of nursing systems. In the theory of
self care, she explains self care as the activities carried out by the individual to maintain
their own health. Whenever there is an inadequacy, the person will be in need of self
care or will have a deficit in self care. The health deviation self-care comes into play

when the individual is unable to conduct activities of self-care. This is identified by the
nurse through thorough assessment of the patient. Once identified, the nurse has to
select required nursing systems to provide care: wholly compensatory, partly
compensatory or supportive and educative system. She specifically defines when
nursing is needed: Nursing is needed when the individual cannot maintain continuously
that amount and quality of self-care necessary to sustain life and health, recover from
disease or injury, or cope with their effects.
Self-Care deficit theory emphasizes the clients self-care needs; nursing care
becomes necessary when client is unable to fulfill biological, psychological,
developmental or social needs.
This theory is correlated to our case since the diagnosis of the patient inhibits his
to do self-care activities in his own. Due to his impaired mobility, the client is unable to
perform his own self-care and his activities of daily living. By providing assistance and
help, we, as student nurses, were able to fulfill and help the client meet his daily needs
by providing a partly compensatory care together with the clients companion.