Orem's General Theory of Nursing

Orem model of Nursing or the concept of 'self care' was given by Dorothea Orem between 1959 and 2001 with a unique philosophy that patients must be able to take care independently. Orem's nursing theory highlights the significance of human service that works in collaboration with the patient's need and ability to commence with the self-care to help the patient in sustaining health, recovery and to cope up with injury and their effects. Orem's conceptual framework is based on the three components of Self-care deficit theory, Self-care theory and the nursing system theory.

Although the three theories sound similar, but there is a noticeable difference between them and according to the nursing philosophy, which still invites nursing students and researchers to recreate their own nursing theories, I believe that these three theories are the three steps that occur from the point an individual becomes a patient. Self-care deficit theory - the first component where the patient is dependant upon the nursing staff to take care, is the stage where the patient lacks the ability to self-care. The second component or the self-care theory acts as a behaviour indicator that records the efforts involved on behalf of the patient that lead him towards cure. The third component of Orem's theory indicates the prescription and care when patient in collaboration with the nursing staff performs self-care tasks.

Developmental Paradigm: Although, Orem's work does not highlight upon any developmental phase directly, but indirectly it emphasizes upon human developmental model encompassing steady development in terms of physiological, social, cognitive and psychologically factors. Orem's three components indirectly refers to the human developmental phase in which the person or patient has to pass through various stages often with the help of nurse. This indicates the significance of the nurse's role in physiological and emotional well-being of the patient while at the same time alleviating the formation of barriers to natural development.

Behavioral Paradigm: Orem's theory is based on the behavioural aspect of human nature that refers to the basic and advanced human needs. Food, clothing and health cover the basic assistance while additional support comes under advanced human needs. Furthermore she suggests that in situations where 'basic' needs remain unfulfilled, it is the core responsibility of nurses and midwives to assist the patients with 'advanced' needs, that simply means that in conditions where the patient is unable to look after himself, nursing staff may assist them or teach them how to meet the needs in other ways or involve family members in meeting the person's needs.

Orem's nursing model is considered to be among one of the most applied form of nursing paradigm which proposes eight significant central components that cater all the 'basic' needs of human existence. From food, shelter and health to the environmental society, all the constituents of human endurance come under Orem's model which when combines with the 'advanced' needs as functional integrated unit works with motivation to achieve self-care. Now, it depends upon nurse's role to seek ways to assist the patient towards recovery.