Importance of Nursing Theories
Importance of Nursing Theory
Nursing theory can be defined as a belief or a set of proposed procedures or policies that must be followed concerning every nursing action. It is a set of frameworks of concepts that are developed to act as a guide for nurses. The theories were created to analyze and give meaning to the practice of nursing, guide the practice and offer a platform for clinical decision making (Masters, 2011). Nursing theories were developed through the collaboration of nurses with other healthcare professionals. In most cases, nurses use a range of approaches to carry out their daily duties. By using different theories, nurses can identify the best method that will be best placed to deal with the situation they might be facing. The methods help the nurses to deploy their analytical and critical thinking skills while also improving their comprehension of concepts (Masters, 2011). In return, the theories have a significant influence on the quality of patient care, their outcome and the communication between the nurse and the patient. One of the preferred theories used by nurses is the Orem’s theory which was developed by Dorothy E Orem. This essay examines the importance of theory, its importance to the nursing and its application to the nursing practice.
Importance of Nursing Theory
Nursing theories are important because they help design and create a series of action that are to be followed for nurses to achieve their intended goals. The theories offer changes or functions that can be deployed by nurses in their practice to enhance delivery of their services (Butts and Rich, 2014). It is vital for the theories to be included in a master’s program because the theories will offer nurses with difference ways they can handle different situations. The frameworks proposed in the theories are meant to assist nurses with critical and analytical skills of diverse situations they might face during their working experiences (Butts and Rich, 2014). By including the theories in the master’s program nurses will be well equipped to handle the different scenarios that their patients experience.
The theories provide a platform for the nursing practice. It helps in the creations of additional knowledge and gives directions as to how the nursing practice should be developed to cater for the future needs of the healthcare industry. This is important as it prepares the nurses to be ready for the multiple changes their industry stand to face as population demographics change and patients expectations continue to rise (Butts and Rich, 2014). The theories help the nursing profession in deciding what they know and what it is they need to know to handle their patients. In so doing the theories assist the nursing profession distinguish what should make the foundation of their profession. The theories explicitly define what nursing is and offer guides to how the profession should be undertaken. The theories therefore play a significant role in determining and distinguishing the nursing profession from others healthcare professions (Masters, 2011). The theories have successfully been used to maintain the professional boundaries of the nursing practice.
Major Concern of Using Nursing Theories
Many nurses do not have the necessary training or the experience needed to handle the different concepts that the theories represent. Most of them do not understand neither do they apply these theories into practice. This becomes a major concern for the nursing profession while using the theories as not many nurses can effectively implement them. Not being able to understand the requirements of the theories hinders the professions duties as the nurses cannot effectively discharge their duties.
Summary of the Orem’s Nursing Theory
The Orem nursing theory also commonly referred to as the Self-Care Nursing Theory focuses on the need for patients to take care of themselves after the care of physicians and nurses. The model developed by Dorothea Orem is considered as a grand nursing theory because it covers a broad range of concepts that can be used in almost all instances of the nursing practice (Taylor, et.al, 2011). The model had seen consistent development from when it was started in 1959 to 2001 when it was last published. Key concepts that have been used to guide the theory include but not limited to nursing, humans, environment, health, self-care or self-care agencies, basic conditioning factors, therapeutic self-care demand, self-care deficit, nursing agency, and nursing system. The theory considers nursing as an art in which those who practice it specialize in assisting people with disabilities (Taylor, et.al, 2011). They, the nurses are also responsible participants in medical care for individuals as they receive physician knowledge. According to the theory, the human concept looks at people as a single or a social unit of men, women, and children. The model considers these groups as a material object in which nurses are required to provide direct care.
How Orem Theory Addresses Concepts Associated with Nursing
The environmental concept of the theory concentrates on the physical, chemical and biological features of the environment. According to the theory, the environment is made up of family, culture and the community. The three are considered as imperative in determining the manner in which the profession should be carried out (Taylor, et.al, 2011). They are used to determine the future needs and current requirements of the nursing practice. The theory also uses health as a concept in its development. Health is made up of both individual’s heath and the group’s health. It is considered as being both physically, emotional and spiritually sound or whole. Apart from health, self-care is also considered as a fundamental concept in the Orem’s theory (Taylor, et.al, 2011). Self-care is the action that an individual takes on their behalf to ensure that they maintain their health and well-being. This is essential for the nursing practice as it helps in ensuring that the community stays healthy and looks after them. In the process nurses are offloaded off the extra care that is covered by self-care.
Orem's theory is important in a student's master's track because it encourages critical thinking and develops the student's analytical skills. This significantly impacts on the student's leadership skill that is critical for the nursing practice. The theory also helps the student in understanding the health care policies they are meant to operate in offering them opportunities to influence the policies. As a nursing practitioner, use of the theory is imperative as it covers almost every scenario that nurses might come across during their careers.
Application of the Orem Theory
Orem Theory Definition and Explanation of Nurse Practitioner
The Orem theory has been used in nursing practice as a method of determining the deficits in self-care facing humans and in defining the roles every person plays in meeting the demands in self-care. The theory considers a nurse practitioner as a healthcare provider or an assistant to people who need nursing care (Wong, et.al, 2015). The nurse practitioner's role is therefore considered as maintaining of patients health according to the needs of every individual. A nurse is also considered as an intelligent participant in healthcare of people who seek help from the physician.
Examples Illustrating Orem Definition of Nurse Practitioner
The nurse is recognized as a healthcare provider or an assistant to people who require medical care because it is their duty to look after the sick. In applying the theory, I have been able to assist several patients to take an interest in helping themselves manage their illness. For example, for patients with terminal illness like diabetes, I have been able to offer advice on how they can diagnose themselves to determine their insulin levels (Song, 2011). This has seen a significant decrease in the number of repeat cases from patients that I have been able to advise on the need of self-care.
As an intelligent participant in medical care, as a nurse, I have been able to be by the assigned physician in managing different patients. Applying the theory in my working environment has helped me manage different working scenarios as diverse physicians handle their patients differently. The theories have helped me in managing the complex patient's expectations while at the same time let the patients be aware of the need of relying on themselves for medical care before they seek the services of a professional.
Conclusion
Nursing theories are essential to the nursing practice because they set the procedures and guide the policies that are needed for the practice. They analyze the meaning of the nursing practice and help distinguish the profession from any other within their industry. The use and implementation of the theories have helped the nursing profession to be better equipped in handling the different patient needs and the ever changing complex healthcare system. The Orem theory focused on the need of self-care and why it is important that nurses take on the mandate of ensuring their patients are taking care of themselves. Self-care is important as it influences the both an individual's health and that of the public. It is, therefore, imperative for the medical profession to insist on self-care as it will reduce the huge demand of the need for self-care.
References
Butts, J. B., & Rich, K. L. (2014). Philosophies and theories for advanced nursing practice (2nd ed.). Sudbury, MA, United States: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
Masters, K. (2011). Nursing theories: A framework for professional practice. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
Song, M. (2011). Diabetes Mellitus and the importance of self-care. The Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 25(2), 93–98. doi:10.1097/jcn.0b013e3181c5a364
Taylor, S. G., Renpenning, K. M. G., & Susan Taylor MSN Ph.D. FAAN (2011). Self-care science, nursing theory, and evidence-based practice. New York: Springer Publishing Company.
Wong, C. L., Ip, W. Y., Choi, K. C., & Lam, L. W. (2015). Examining self-care behaviors and their associated factors among adolescent girls with Dysmenorrhea: An application of Orem’s self-care deficit nursing theory: Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 47(3), 219–227. doi:10.1111/jnu.12134
