The 

Adaptation Model of Nursing is a prominent nursing theory aiming to

explain or define the provision of nursing science. In her theory, Sister Callista
Roy’s model sees the individual as a set of interrelated systems that maintain a
balance between various stimuli.

The following are Callista Roy’s Adaptation Model’s major concepts, including the
definition of the nursing metaparadigm as defined by the theory.

Adaptive system which are the:

Individuals, families, and community

-Based on Roy, humans are holistic beings that are in constant interaction with
their environment.

Environmental Stimuli:

Roy categorized these stimuli as focal, contextual, and residual. Focal stimuli are

that confront the human system and require the most attention. Contextual
stimuli are characterized as the rest of the stimuli present with the focal stimuli
and contribute to its effect. Residual stimuli are the additional environmental
factors present within the situation but whose effect is unclear. This can include
previous experience with certain stimuli.

In coping processes, we have two, the regulator and

cognator.
Regulator

The regulator subsystem is a person’s physiological coping mechanism. The

body attempts to adapt via regulation of our bodily processes, including
neurochemical and endocrine systems.

Cognator

The cognator subsystem is a person’s mental coping mechanism. A person uses

his brain to cope via self-concept, interdependence, and role function adaptive
modes.
Next is the four types of modes

Physiological-Physical Mode
Physical and chemical processes are involved in the function and activities of
living organisms. These are the actual processes put in motion by the regulator
subsystem.

This mode’s basic need is composed of the needs associated with oxygenation,
nutrition, elimination, activity and rest, and protection. This model’s complex
processes are associated with the senses, fluid and electrolytes, neurologic
function, and endocrine function.

Self-Concept / Group Identity Mode

In this mode, the goal of coping is to have a sense of unity, meaning the
purposefulness in the universe, and a sense of identity integrity. This
includes body image and self-ideals.

Role Function Mode

This mode focuses on the primary, secondary, and tertiary roles that a person
occupies in society and knowing where they stand as a member of society.

Interdependence Mode
This mode focuses on attaining relational integrity through the giving and
receiving of love, respect and value. This is achieved with effective
communication and relations.
Levels of Adaptation
Integrated Process
The various modes and subsystems meet the needs of the environment. These
are usually stable processes (e.g., breathing, spiritual realization, successful
relationship).

Compensatory Process
The cognator and regulator are challenged by the environment’s needs but are
working to meet the needs (e.g., grief, starting with a new job, compensatory
breathing)

Compromised Process
The modes and subsystems are not adequately meeting the environmental
challenge (e.g., hypoxia, unresolved loss, abusive relationships).

So why did I choose this theory?

Sister Callista Roy's Adaptation Model was the model I chose as the theory to link
to family health nursing because I personally find the concept of adaptation to be
highly relatable. The individual is viewer from a comprehensive perspective in the
adaptation model paradigm. It is a state in which the separate elements work
together to form a unified being. For example po, sa concept of the family, if the
one of the members of the family is unable to adapt the stimuli, affected po yung
buong family. That is why adaptation is important as a whole. The quote "The
whole is larger than the sum of its parts" is discussed in this article. It is also
recognized that in this concept, the individual is constantly interacting with its
surroundings, which is why the living systems or person have inputs, outputs,
controls, and feedback.
The Adaptation Model is connected to family health nursing, in which the family
is viewed as a whole system with inputs, controls, feedback loops, and outputs.
Example po: The situation of one of our earlier family nursing care plans, which
talks about after the death of Mang Rey's wife, his family continue to live and
didn't let sorrow or sadness affect them. Mang Rey and his wife are the bread
winner of the family, but after his wife died, He still continue to look for a job and
his oldest son helped to look for a source of income. In their situation, we could
see the stimuli that led them to adapt is the death of the mother, which is one of
the breadwinners. Where we could assess that the level of their adaptation is
merely at the compensatory process because even if the mother of the family
died, the father and the eldest son look for a job to meet their needs. So, they
need to work on it, even though affected po sila sa stimuli. Still, the family has a
large size of family members. The income of the father and son is not enough for
them for daily needs as evidence by the youngest members of the family are
getting sick. In addition, the father’s job, which is a carpenter, is just temporary.
So, as a family health nurse, we must know our priority, which is the two
youngest members of the family. We must do health education with the family
on how to maintain a good health with the resources surrounds them. For
example, we can teach the cheapest but healthy meal plan for their family. There
are also clinics that gives free checkup and vitamins for them. We can also teach
them on what to avoid for the betterment of their health. The fact that the
mother of the family is dead, which is one of the sources of the family’s income,
they should look for a permanent job so that they can’t they will not struggle
financially.

To sum up everything that has been stated so far, Sister Callista Roy's Adaptation
Model could be applied to family health nursing, where stimuli such as illness,
disease, disability, or the death of a family member can have a significant
influence on the family. That is when the family adjusts, resulting in a shift in roles
and dependency among family members. The family's adaptation level would
then be determined, starting with weak adaptation or compromised adaptation,
compensation level, and finally integrated level adaption. And as a nurse, it is our
goal to assist the family in adapting to the stimuli that they encounter by
providing health education, assessment, and assisting them in being referred or
checked on by a physician so that we can learn more about the appropriate
interventions that we can provide for the family.