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Dorothea Orem: Self Care Deficit Theory

Nursing theories is very essential for us (nurses) in our daily work. It provides us

 with a sound basis to describe, explain, and predict factors that influence nursing care.

In nursing, caring is the core of nursing practice. As a profession, we need to develop

theoretical knowledge based on research findings to form the foundation of nursing

practice. Therefore, development and validation of nursing theory will help in

strengthening nursing practice. It is also a source of professional autonomy and power,

and it guides in nursing education, research and practice and differentiates nursing

practice from other disciplines.

Nursing theory should, in general, have a significant impact on clinical practice.

Patient care situations can usually be viewed within the context of some theoretical

framework. Dorothea Orem's general theory of nursing provides one such framework.

The theory essentially defines the need for nursing care. This need occurs whenever a

person experiences some limitation or deficit which interferes with their ability to

maintain self-care. Further, the theory delineates the various interactions which should

occur between a nurse and a patient.

Dorothea Orem's general theory of nursing describes nursing as a complex form

of deliberate interpersonal action that ultimately provides a helping human health

service. She chose the name ‘deficit’ as it describes and explain a relationship betweenabilities of individual, their children or adults for whom they care. The notion ‘deficit”

does not refer to a specific

type of limitation, but to the relationship between the capabilities of the individual and

the need for action.

Working outside your home country is a great challenge; you will encounter a

diverse culture wherein the acceptance of the plan of care varies to each individual. In

my experience, especially here in the gulf region it is very difficult to apply in a clinical

setting the theory of Orem because of several factors most likely with their health

beliefs, culture, and perception towards their recovery. Like for example, a Middle

Eastern patient complaint a minor cut injury on the distal toe but hemodynamically

stable, majority of their basic ADL will be dependents to the nurses. Like for instance,

he/she will ask to drink water even if it is within his/her reach and he/she is able to

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manage still they will call the nurse to spoon feed them like a small baby in diapers. In

addition to that, even if the nurses will explain the importance of being independent and

the theory of Orem will takes place in this case. However, they will not accept what you

 will tell them, instead you will be bad forever until they discharge. Their mentality is

different, if they are sick they are really sick and you have to serve them like majesty.

However in our case, amoebiasis is usually transmitted by the fecal-oral route,

but it can also be transmitted indirectly through contact with dirty hands or objects as

 well as by anal-oral contact. Our patient must have the ability to take care of herself

especially on the foods she eat and observe a proper hygiene or else it will lead to the

severity of the illness. She needs also proper diet in the way that her immune system

 will boost as its highest level to evade or prevent the occurence of the bacteria that will

invade to the system of the body thus prevent such illness.