Dorothea Orem’s Self Care Theory

Background of the Author

Dorothea Elizabeth Orem was born in 1914 in Baltimore, Maryland. She
received a diploma from the Providence Hospital School of Nursing and went on to
the Catholic University of America to earn a B.S. in Nursing Education and M.S. in
Nursing Education

Dorothea is America’s foremost nursing theorist who developed the Self-Care

Deficit Nursing Theory, also known as the Orem Model of Nursing. She was
rewarded with an Honorary Doctor of Science Degree from Georgetown University,
Incarnate Word College and Illinois Wesleyan University and was employed by the
Division of Hospital and Institutional Services of the Indiana State Board of Health
where she developed her initial definition of nursing practice

Orem published a book named "Guidelines for Developing Curricula for the
Education of Practical Nurses", wrote "The Hope of Nursing" and published
"Nursing Concepts of Practice”. She also started a consulting firm called Orem and
Shield's Inc. and formed the Nursing Development Conference Group due to
their dissatisfaction with a lack of an organized framework of nursing knowledge

Why the theory?

Between 1959 and 2001, Dorothea Orem developed the Self-Care Nursing
Theory or the Orem Model of Nursing.

The Self-Care Theory was developed as a result of Dorothea Orem’s efforts

towards her goal of improving the quality of nursing in general hospitals in her
state.

What is the Self-Care Theory about?

The Self-Care Theory of Nursing is composed of three (3) interrelated theories:
1. The Theory of Self-Care focuses on the performance or practice of activities
that individuals initiate and perform on their own behalf.

2. The Self-Care Deficit Theory delineates when nursing is needed.

3. The Theory of Nursing Systems the product of a series of relations between

the persons: nurse and client. The classifications of the Theory of Nursing
Systems:
➔ Wholly Compensatory - an individual is unable to engage in self-care actions.
➔ Partially Compensatory - nurse performs care measures/actions involving
manipulative tasks or ambulation.
➔ Supportive-Educative a.k.a. Supportive-Developmental System - the
person can perform or can and should learn to perform required measures of
externally or internally oriented therapeutic self-care but cannot do so without
assistance.
Metaparadigm of The Self Care Theory
1. Person

“The practice of activities that individuals initiate and perform on their own behalf
in maintaining life, health, and well-being.”

2. Nursing

”The act of assisting others in the provision and management of self-care to

maintain or improve human functioning at the home level of effectiveness.”

3. Environment

Becomes an external source of influence in the internal interaction of a person

4. Health

Supports WHO’S definition of health.

This model of health care includes promoting and maintaining health,treating

diseases, as well as prevention of complications.

References:

● Nickle, L. (n.d.). Dorothea E. Orem Collection. Chesney

Archives.https://medicalarchives.jhmi.edu/collection/dorothea-e-orem-collection/
● Petiprin, A. (2020a). Dorothea E. Orem - Nursing theory. Nursing
Theory.https://nursing-theory.org/nursing-theorists/Dorothea-E-Orem.php
● Petiprin, A. (2020). Orem’s self-care deficit nursing theory. Nursing
Theory.https://nursing-theory.org/theories-and-models/orem-self-care-deficit-
theory.php
● RN, A. G., BSN. (2014a, August 12). Dorothea Orem: Self Care Deficit Theory
StudyGuide. Nurseslabs. https://nurseslabs.com/dorothea-orems-self-care-
theory/#h-self-care-theory
● RN, A. G., BSN. (2014, August 12). Dorothea Orem: Self Care Deficit Theory
StudyGuide. Nurseslabs. https://nurseslabs.com/dorothea-orems-self-care-
theory/#h-theories