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I. Written Responses to Questions 2
Respond to the following question:
Read over chapters 7–8 and select 2 grand theories or models. In your own words,
summarize the main components of each of these models/theories. Identify at least 2
strengths and 2 weaknesses of each of the models/theories in light of clarity and practical
value.
1) Dorthea Orem’s Self Care Deficit Theory
Orem’s self care deficit theory has three main components. These components include self
care, self care deficit and nursing. The basis of this theory is that nurses can provide
interventions to help patients reach their best quality of life by properly performing self care
activities. The concepts of the nursing metaparadigm are used all throughout this theory as it
addresses person, environment, health and nursing. In this theory nursing is viewed primarily as
an art form in which the nurse is able to tailor each patient experience in a unique manner to help
them achieve self care.
One of the major strengths I believe this theory holds is that even the novice nurse can apply
its principles and concepts to enhance nursing care. The theory is easy to understand and can be
utilized by any practicinor at any level of nursing. Another strength this theory has is that it can
provide a foundation for research and education within the nursing field. The manner in which
the theory is set up you collect your data regarding the patient and situation, organize what you
find, then use the results of the data to come up with a plan to assist the patient in achieving self
care. These same steps can be utilized and applied to help nurses enhance and build their skill
sets to further the nursing practice.
Weaknesses of this theory include that it is very generalized and does not take into
consideration individual variables, such as if the patient has a mental illness, or the if the
situation entails a trauma incident and not necessarily an illness that could have been prevented
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or improved with self care. I also believe an additional weakness of her theory would be that it
lacks to address the patients emotional/spiritual needs. In achieving proper self care I find it
increasingly important to include the emotional and spiritual aspect of the patient.
Overall I find the self care deficit theory is very practical and is a great tool to be used in
nursing practice today.
2) The Roy Adaptation Model
The Roy adaptation model looks at the individual from both a physiological and
psychosocial standpoint, with emphasis placed on a person maintaining a balance between
these characteristics and the environment surrounding them. The nursing role within this
model is to help the patient to adapt to disease or health in a way that will ultimately help the
individual achieve and maintain the best quality of life. This nursing theory also includes the
nursing metaparadigm in its background of concepts, as well as four different modes of
adapatation that the individual needs to be able to achieve and maintain a positive balance of
their world.
Strengths of this theory would be that the adaptation model looks at the human being
from every aspect and takes each aspect of the person into h so that a unique plan can be
instituted to help ensure adapatation is achieved and can be maintained. Since there can be
multiple reasons or causes for different situations in a persons life, I believe that how this
model considers multiple causes as the root of the problem is a great strength. Another
strength of this theory is how it is organized. I believe the organization of the theory helps the
nurse to use all their skills to assess, plan and evaluate and adapat an individualized plan of
care. This is a crucially important part of delivering quality nursing care to each patient.
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Looking into the weakness, I believe that this theory is very complex and has
multiple concepts and elements. To be able to completely understand and apply this theory
the way it was meant to be used could be very time consuming due to its complexity. Also
another weakness that I believe could be a problem in its frequent use it the amount of time it
takes to carry out the theory. In acute care especially time constraint is a large problem. With
the complexity of the theory it is not easily performed on carried out on a regular basiss due
to all the steps needed.
Overall, I feel that the Roy adapattaion model is practical but more so for education and
research purposes in nursing. It has contributed greatly to helping identify new evidence
based practice in nursing that can be used on a daily basis.
