Theoretical Foundation in Nursing

Chapter 9
Dorothea Orem’s Self – Care Deficit Nursing Theory

Major Concepts and Definitions

The Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory is a general theory
composed of the following related theories:
I The Theory of Self-Care – describes the way and how
people care for themselves.
II The Theory of Dependent Care – explains how family
members and/or friends provide dependent-care for
a person who is socially dependent.
III The Theory of Self-Care Deficit – describes and
explains why people can be helped through nursing.
IV The theory of Nursing System – describes and
explains relationships that must be brought about
and maintained for nursing to be produced.
Self Care Theory
This theory includes:
1. Self Care. Practice of activities that individuals initiate
and perform independently on their behalf in
maintaining life, health, and well-being.
2. Self Care Agency. Is a human ability which is the “ability
for engaging in self care activities: --- conditioned by age,
developmental state, life experiences, sociocultural
orientation, health, and available resources.
3. Therapeutic Self-Care Demand. “Totality of self-care
actions to be performed for some duration in order to
meet self-care requisites by using valid methods and
related sets of operations and actions.