Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Theory, Research Paper Example

Introduction

Nursing theories are applicable to a variety of issues and problems that impact the practice environment in different ways. Many practice issues are directly related to patient care and outcomes, while others are specific towards nursing administration and the elements of the practice environment. It is important to utilize different nursing theories in order to achieve the desired objectives and to recognize the value of improving quality of care and other factors that impact nurses as they aim to effectively treat patients, share knowledge and ideas, and promote change and reform within the healthcare system as appropriate. These factors also demonstrate a higher level understanding of the different issues that impact patients and how specific theories apply to these conditions. Nursing theories provide a basis for examining these ideas and in determining how to best move forward with a clear direction to improve outcomes and promote change as desired.

Nurses must identify theories that will provide the most benefit to meet their needs, and this requires an understanding of the scope and definition of the theory and its applicability to the practice environment. Dorothea Orem’s self-care deficit nursing theory provides a framework for evaluating the conditions under which spirituality and wellbeing are considered as primary objectives, and care is provided with an aim to be proactive in addressing the spiritual nature of illness and how it contributes to the patient’s overall health status and understanding of his or her condition (White, Peters, & Schim, 2011). Hospice care requires a complex and unique approach to healthcare services in order to satisfy patient care needs and expectations at the end of life. In this context, there must be an approach in place that is dependent upon the challenges related to quality of care, dignity and respect, and the overall needs during this stage. Nurses play a significant role in many aspects of hospice care and provide opportunities to engage patients and their families and to discuss matters of importance that impact those who are involved. Orem’s theory is an important contributor to the understanding of spirituality and how it impacts health during end of life care and how nurses might be effective contributors in determining the best possible approaches to promote dignity and respect at this stage (White et.al, 2011).

Analysis

Nurses’ attitudes towards hospice care and this patient population must be examined closely because it requires education and knowledge in order to distinguish between fact and fiction in the nursing work environment with respect to this group. Most importantly, nursing units must be able to obtain adequate training and education in the context of spirituality and its impact on nursing care as a means of developing new ideas and approaches to improve patient outcomes, while also recognizing the role of vulnerability within this population group (Erci, 2011). According to Erci (2011), “to provide nursing care, Orem identifies operations that are specifically professional-technological, including diagnostic, prescriptive, treatment, or regulatory and case management. The application of Orem’s theory to nursing practice is relevant as a framework in a variety of settings, including acute care units, ambulatory clinics, community health programs, high-rise senior centers, nursing homes, hospices, and rehabilitation centers (P. 80). This theory, therefore, provides a basis for examining the importance of hospice care and how it impacts patients, using different ideas and approaches in order to determine the best possible approach to manage patient care and to reflect upon how to treat these patients with dignity, self-awareness, and spiritual means (Erci, 2011).

It is known that “Orem’s model has relevance to palliative nursing as it links the concept to aspects of self-management in the contemporary literature, particularly in relation to wellbeing. Self-management in general has been shown to improve health outcomes, promote a feeling of well-being and improve the quality of life for those suffering incurable conditions” (Johnston, Rogerson, Macijauskiene, Bla, & Cholewka, 2014, p. 6). From this perspective, it is important to identify the tools and resources that are required to meet the needs of this population and how to best address other concerns that specifically address patient care outcomes for those who face a terminal diagnosis (Johnston et.al, 2014). It is important to identify how this theory impacts nursing practice and how it translates into a level of care and treatment that supports the preservation of quality of life for many patients, particularly those in hospice care (Johnston et.al, 2014). Furthermore, it is evident that nurses must be able to adopt Orem’s theory because it engages nurses in seeking new methods of providing care for patients that will have an impact on patient care outcomes, particularly when there is a spiritual element in place that supports these needs (Johnston et.al, 2014).

Within a palliative care setting such as hospice, it is important to identify how Orem’s theory might contribute to an improved understanding of self-care and a level of satisfaction with the treatment that is provided to patients (Breiddal, 2012). This process must engage nurses in a discussion regarding the role of spirituality in meeting the needs of patients and in supporting a framework that will have a positive impact on patient care outcomes over time (Breiddal, 2012). Identifying a spiritual approach to self-care and nursing practice requires a delicate balance between the interests of nurses and the challenges of treating patients who require end of life care at this stage (Breiddal, 2012). Considerable resources are required in order to accomplish the desired objectives and to be proactive in expanding knowledge and resources to achieve effective outcomes and quality of care for patients (Breiddal, 2012). These practices require nurses to support specific behaviors that aim to support patients who require hospice care and who support preserving quality of life for patients at this stage as best as possible (Breiddal, 2012).

Orem’s self-care deficit theory also examines the different contexts of care as it impacts patient wellbeing, including different forms of palliative and hospice care that are instrumental in shaping patient outcomes and in supporting the needs of this population effectively. This theory must adopt a culture of awareness and a means of understanding how patients respond to care and treatment at this stage. This process also requires a high level understanding of the challenges related to patient care and how to overcome the deficits that are experienced for patients who struggle to maintain some semblance of quality of life at this level. Nurses must be able to demonstrate a high level understanding of the issues that are relevant to patients who require hospice care and how to overcome these challenges in such a way that they impact patient outcomes in a positive manner. Their level of care and the attention that is paid to patients requires nurses to understand the importance of their roles and how they might convey a culture of awareness and strength that will express support for patients during a difficult period of the life span.

Terminal illness requires a specialized level of attention to patients in a particularly vulnerable state as they aim to transition into a state of acceptance of their condition and how it impacts their overall health status. Nurses must be able to adopt specific strategies that will be effective in meeting the needs of patients and in supporting an environment that introduces elements of compassion, autonomy, understanding and spirituality as necessary. These factors contribute to the overall direction of the nursing practice environment with respect to patients facing the end of life, and how this impacts their overall health and wellbeing in different ways. Regardless of the circumstances, patient care quality must be preserved as best as possible and provide an opportunity to examine the different constructs of care and treatment that will lead to positive outcomes for patients, in spite of their health status.

Patient care quality is of the utmost importance to nursing practice; therefore, this process must be taken seriously and must emphasize the importance of different ideas and approaches that impact outcomes for patients who require end of life care, such as hospice patients. Therefore, nurses must be able to demonstrate their commitment to nursing excellence and to understand how to improve their own practice environment through their actions (Mensik, Martin, Scott, & Horton, 2011). In this context, it is important to identify the tools and resources that are required to improve patient care outcomes and to reflect upon the needs of patients that will positively impact quality of care and the administration of care to the designated population group (Mensik et.al, 2011). Practicing nurses and nurse leaders must be able to identify specific areas where patient care quality might be taken more seriously and elements of patient care needs will be considered, such as spiritual and emotional needs (Mensik et.al, 2011). This process is essential because it requires nurses to understand how to treat this patient population and to recognize the tools and resources that are required to meet patient care needs effectively (Mensik et.al, 2011). Nurses must be able to administer care that supports quality-based objectives, but to also consider other factors that have a significant impact on patient care outcomes that are favorable, respectful of their needs, and encouraging, in spite of the issues that patients face at this stage (Mensik et.al, 2011).

Most importantly, patients in hospice care deserve an opportunity to be treated with the utmost dignity and respect, in spite of their condition and how it impacts their overall health and wellbeing. These practices require nurses to be proactive and attentive towards the needs of their patients and to recognize the value of these opportunities in advancing positive outcomes, in spite of health status. Therefore, nurses must exercise sound and reasonable judgment in their decisions and must be able to demonstrate their willingness to take steps to promote a spiritual understanding of the end of life and how it influences patients in different ways. This process also requires nurses to exercise their knowledge and experience and apply it to different areas of hospice care in order to support a higher quality and more personal experience. Patients at this stage strive for comfort and support; therefore, this must be provided at all times and must coincide with other factors that have a direct impact on patient care and how this population is treated during hospice care. Patients must be treated with dignity and respect at all times, as this supports a basic understanding of the needs of this population so that they are provided with new tools and resources from nurses to experience a spiritual connection to their care and treatment within the hospice environment.

Conclusion

Nursing-based theories represent a means of examining a variety of issues and challenges that impact patients, while also considering other factors that influence quality of care and treatment. Orem’s self-care deficit theory is one alternative that is available to support these objectives and to recognize the value of achieving patient care quality and a focus on patient needs above all else. These factors are designed to support and engage patients in different types of treatments and approaches that support their spiritual needs and that also impact their overall health and wellbeing in a positive manner. In spite of the meaning and purpose of hospice care, it is nonetheless an opportunity for nurses to be proactive in aiming to better understand how spirituality and other related factors are important to patients during this highly vulnerable stage. Therefore, nurses must exercise patience and must be willing to adapt to these changes as necessary, while also considering other factors that will facilitate change and progress within hospice care to improve the focus on the patient and his or her needs, using nursing-based theories and frameworks as a guide.

References

Breiddal, S. M. F. (2012). Self-care in palliative care: A way of being. Illness, Crisis, & Loss, 20(1), 5-17.

Erci, B. (2011). Nursing theories applied to vulnerable populations: Examples from Turkey. Book Alone: Caring for the Vulnerable, 79.

Johnston, B., Rogerson, L., Macijauskiene, J., Bla, A., & Cholewka, P. (2014). An exploration of self-management support in the context of palliative nursing: a modified concept analysis. BMC nursing, 13(1), 21.

Mensik, J. S., Martin, D. M., Scott, K. A., & Horton, K. (2011). Development of a Professional Nursing Framework: The Journey Toward Nursing Excellence. Journal of Nursing Administration, 41(6), 259-264.

White, M. L., Peters, R., & Schim, S. M. (2011). Spirituality and Spiritual Self-Care Expanding Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory. Nursing science quarterly, 24(1), 48-56.