Dorothea Orem’s

Self-Care Deficit Nursing

Theory
Romer SB. Abay BSN-1A
Dorothea E. Orem
Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory

Self-Care Deficit Theory 2

Background of the
Theorist
Dorothea E. Orem, M.S.N.Ed., D.Sc., R.N
1930
NURSING DIPLOMA AND BS
NURSING EDUCATION

1914
BORN IN BALTIMORE,
MARYLAND.
1945
MASTER DEGREE IN
NURSING EDUCATION

1971
1959 PUBLISHED SELF-CARE
CREATED THE CONCEPT OF NURSING THEORY,
SELF CARE NURSING CONCEPTS OF
PRACTICE
Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory
First published in “Nursing concepts of Practice.” in 1971.
The goal is to improve the quality of nursing care in the hospitals.
Composed of three interrelated theories.
This idea evolved into her nursing concept of “Self-care.” that is
when they are able, individuals care for themselves. When the person
is unable to care for himself or herself, the nurse provides the
assistance needed.

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Orem’s four concepts
of the nursing
metaparadigm
Person
• Individual or group of individual who have the ability
to acquire the knowledge necessary to perform tasks
and self care.

• Ability to integrate self-care tasks and family,

community and individual needs.

Self-Care Deficit Theory 7

Environment
• Consist of environmental factors, environmental conditions and
developmental environment.
4 realms of state are encompassed in Environment
.Physical
Chemical
Biological
Socioeconomical

• Can positively or negatively affect a persons ability to provide self-care.

Self-Care Deficit Theory 8

Health
• Describe by Orem as the state characterized by soundness or
wholeness of bodily structure and function; Illness is its
opposite.
• Consists of physical psychological, interpersonal, and social
aspects according to Orem, these aspects are inseparable.
• Includes promotion and maintenance of health, treatment of
illness and prevention of complications.

Self-Care Deficit Theory 9

Nursing
• Is viewed by Orem as a service geared toward helping the self and
others.
• Is required when therapeutic self-care demands need to meet self-care
requisites exceed a patients self care agency.
• Has several components: nursing art, nursing prudence, nursing
service, role theory and special technologies.

Self-Care Deficit Theory 10

 Self-Care
Deficit Nursing Theory
 3 CONCEPTUAL
THEORIES OF THE SELF-CARE DEFICIT
NURSING THEORY
Theory of Self-Care
Theory of Self-Care Deficit
Theory of Nursing System

Self-Care Deficit Theory 12

 SELF-CARE AGENCY
Theory SELF-CARE REQUISITES
THERAPEUTIC SELF-
of Self-Care CARE DEMAND
 Theory of Self-Care
SELF-CARE AGENCY SELF-CARE REQUISITES THERAPEUTIC SELF-
CARE DEMAND
o Human’s ability or Universal Self- o Are those self-
power to engage in Care care activities
self-care and is Developmental
affected by basic required to
Self-Care
conditioning Health Deviation meet the self
factors.
Self-Care care requisites.

Theory of Self-Care Deficit 14

Theory of Self-Care
Deficit
 Theory of Self-
Care Deficit
Is the central focus of Orem’s
general theory of nursing.
It necessitates nurses to meet
through five methods of help:
 Acting for or doing for another
 Guiding and directing
 Providing physical and psychological support
 Providing and maintaining an environment that supports
personal development
 Teaching
 THEORY OF
NURSING SYSTEMS
Wholly compensatory
Partially compensatory
Supportive-Educative

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Theory of Nursing Systems
PARTIALLY
WHOLLY COMPENSATORY SUPPORTIVE EDUCATIVE
COMPENSATORY
o Patient is unable to o Patient is able to o Patient able to
complete any self- perform to perform perform task
care independently; self-care task with independently.
nursing partial or no Nursing provides
compensates for assistance from ongoing education
patient’s inability to nursing. and support.
perform self-care.

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Application of
Orem’s theory to
nursing process
Basic conditioning Universal self- Developmental Health deviations Medical problem Self care deficits
factors care self-care and plan
Age Specialized needs Conditions of Physician’s Difference between
Sex Air, water, food for developmental illness or injury. perspective of self-care needs and
Height excrements processes Treatments to condition self-care
Weight activity and rest. New requisites correct the Medical diagnosis capabilities.
Culture Solitude and social from a condition condition. Medical treatment
Race interaction. Requisites
Marital status Hazards to life and associated with a
Religion well being event.
Occupation Promotion of
human functioning
and development.
Nursing diagnosis Outcomes and Implementation Evaluation
Based on self-care plans Nurse-patient Effectiveness of
deficits • Outcomes, actions to: nurse-patient
nursing goals, a) Promote actions to:
and objectives patient as self- a) Promote
• Designing the care agent patient as self-
nursing system. b) Meet self-care care agent
• Appropriate needs b) Meet self-care
methods of c) Decrease self- needs
helping. care deficits c) Decrease self-
care deficits

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