Callista Roy and

The Adaptation Model of Nursing

By: Angeli Mendoza and Brittany Symonds
About Callista Roy ● 14 years old started as a pantry girl at a hospital
and worked her way up to nurse’s aid
● Nun for over 50 years Saint Joseph of Carondelet
● Bachelors from Mount St. Mary’s and Masters of
Nursing from UCLA
● Masters and Doctorate from UCLA, Neuroscience
Postdoc at UCSF
● St. Mary’s and St. Joseph Pediatric Staff Nurse
and Administrator
● Associate Professor at Mount St Mary’s College
of Nursing and University of Portland, Oregon.
● Nurse theorist at Boston College School of
Nursing
● Over 100 publications, which includes 11 books
with translations in 12 languages
● 1978 Elected to American Academy of Nursing

https://www.msmu.edu/media/website/content-assets/msmuedu/home/nurse-theorist/images/
CRoy.jpg
History of the Adaptation Model

● Based on
○ Harry Helson’s Adaptation Theory
■ Perception or reaction to stimulus is based on prior experience
○ Rappaport’s Definition of Systems
■ “is a set of interrelated entities connected by behavior and history” (Fisher,
2011).

● Roy Adaptation Model

○ “Presents the person as a holistic adaptive system in constant interaction with the
internal and the external environment” (Masters, 2014, p. 128).
○ “The main task of the human system is to maintain integrity in the face of
environmental stimuli” (Masters, 2014, p. 128).
The Adaptation Model ●Physiologic
○Oxygenation
○Nutrition
○Elimination
○Activity & rest
○Protection
○Senses
○Fluid & Electrolyte, acid & base
○Neurologic
○Endocrine
●Self-concept
○Self identity and beliefs
●Role function
○Gender
○Societal
○Familial
●Interdependence
https://nurseslabs.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Roy-
○Love, trust, and support in relationships
Diagrammatic-Representation-of-Human-Adaptive-Systems.png
 ●Cardiac ICU
○Cardiogenic Shock
Angeli’s Application of ●Treatment of Cardiogenic Shock Patients
○Physiologic
Roy’s Adaptation Model ■Beta-blockers, Calcium Channel Blockers, Inotropes,
Vasodilators, Vasoconstrictors
■Intra Aortic Balloon Pump
■Left Ventricular Assist Device
■Impella
■Implantable Cardiac Defibrillators/Pacemakers
○Self concept
■Autonomous Care
■Adherence to Therapies
■Developing Living Will
○Role function
■Autonomous Care
■Importance of Support Systems in Choosing Care
○Interdependence
■Patient Support Systems
■Interdisciplinary Care
 ● Neuroscience ICU
○ Traumatic brain injury patients
Brittany’s Application ■ Spontaneous strokes
■ Trauma
of Roy’s Adaptation ● Success of the TBI patient
○ Physiologic
Model ■ Degree of injury - what deficits?
■ Intubated - oxygenation requirement
■ Hemodynamically stable & endocrine
■ ICP control - EVD, Codman
● Paralytics, Arctic Sun, Mannitol
○ Self concept
■ Belief in oneself to rehab
■ Perception deficits
○ Role function
■ Are they responsible for others
■ Goals for role after injury
○ Interdependence
■ Support from family
■ Sense of community
 The Adaptation Model

● Limitations
○ Cognition and GCS
● Future of Adaptation Model
○ New medical devices
○ Psychological research
● Improving patient outcomes

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 Resources

Fisher, J. (2011). Systems theory and structural functionalism. J. T. Ishiyama, & M. Breuning 21st century political science: A
reference handbook. SAGE Publications, https://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781412979351.n9.

Harris, R. (2021). Sister Callista Roy: Adaptation Model. Nursing Theorists and Their Work, 247-256.

Masters, K. (2014). Nursing theories: A framework for professional practice (2nd ed.). Jones and Bartlett.

https://samples.jbpub.com/9781449626013/72376_ch10_masters.pdf

Petiprin, A. (2020). Sister Callista Roy- Nursing theorist. Nursing-Theory.

https://nursing-theory.org/nursing-theorists/Sister-Callista-Roy.php