Comparison of Nursing Theories: Orem’s Self-Care Theory and the Neuman’s System Model

 

 

Table of Contents

Introduction

Nursing theories have been developed for describing, predicting, and explaining the process of nursing for those in the field. They offer a foundation for the nursing practice as well as help to generate further knowledge to indicate the direction in which the discipline should be developed in the future. Comparing and contrasting existing nursing theories can contribute to the enhanced understanding of approaches associated with caring for patients. The current paper will focus on comparing two nursing theories, Orem’s Self-Care Theory and the Neuman’s system model. Dorothea Orem’s self-care deficit theory is based on the premise that human beings can adapt to their environments and thus become independent during their rehabilitation and the management of chronic conditions. Neuman’s systems model represents a nursing theory that is based on the relationship between patients and stress. The central principle of the model is associated with energy resources, such as average temperature, organ strength, response patterns, which are surrounded by several resistance lines. These lines represent internal factors that help patients cope with stressors.

We will write acustom essay on your topictailored to your instructions!

304 experts online

Let us help you

Background of the Theories

The self-care deficit nursing theory was developed in the course of forty years by Dorothea Elizabeth Orem. The theorist received a diploma Providence Hospital School of Nursing in Washington as well as receive honorary doctoral degrees from Wesleyan University, Georgetown University, and Incarnate Word College. The Systems Model was created by Betty Newman, who obtained a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a master’s in Mental Health Public health consultation, and a Ph. D. in clinical psychology from UCLA. Both models were created on the basis of nurses’ experiences as well as the holistic approach of care delivery.

Philosophical Underpinnings of Theories

Dorothea Orem’s approach to care is grounded on the philosophy that parents wish to care for themselves, which means that they can recover holistically when being dedicated to their own health interventions (Orem, 2001). Thus, it can be suggested that Orem’s theory portrays the idea that nursing is an extraordinary ability to care for another person and to guide them toward achieving autonomy and effectiveness in caring for themselves. This corresponds to the philosophy of care to achieve the optimal level of health. In regards to Neuman’s philosophy, the model’s underpinnings are directly related to deChardin’s and Cornu’s approach on the wholeness in systems (Lowry, 2012). The concept of “wholism” is used for referencing both philosophical and biological concepts “implying relationships and processes arising from wholeness, dynamic freedom, and creativity in adjusting to stressors in the internal and external environments” (Neuman & Fawcett, 2011, p. 10).

Major Assumptions, Concepts, and Relationships

According to Orem, patients are expected to be self-reliant and responsible for addressing their own care as well as others in their family who need it. A person’s knowledge of potential problems in their health is necessary for promoting effective behaviors of self-care. Another critical assumption of the theory is that self-care and dependent care represent practices learned from a socio-cultural context. Within Orem’s theory, nursing is considered an art, service, and technology. Health is described as a state in which something is structurally and functionally whole or sound. Environment represents a combination of enthronement factors, elements, and conditions. A nursing problem refers to the deficit in universal, developmental, and other health-related conditions. Thus, self-care is needed as a practice and activities initiated for performing on individuals’ own behalf for maintaining, life, and general well-being.

On-time delivery!

Get your 100% customized paperdone in as little as 1 hour

Let’s start

Neuman’s system model assumes that each patient is unique in his or her characteristics and factors within a basic structure of responses. Several known, unknown, and universal stressors can influence the well-being of clients. Each of the stressors had an influence on the degree to which a person is protected by the Line of Defense (LOD). When such a protective mechanism is not available to maintain the well-being of p

Order this paper