Describe the self-care theory in Nursing.

In the 1950s, Dorothea Orem developed a theory of nursing called self-care. The self-care theory holds that people have an inherent desire to look after themselves. It is up to the nurses to guide them to achieve their goal. Self-care Theory is based upon the belief that people are capable of taking care themselves and that nurses should support this.

Self-care is the basis of the self-care concept. It is the act of initiating and performing activities on one’s own to maintain life, health and well-being. This includes basic ADLs such as bathing and dressing as well as complex activities like managing chronic diseases and maintaining healthy lifestyle.

Self-care can be divided into three categories:

1. Universal Self Care: The basic needs of all humans are hygiene, food, rest, etc.
2. The term “developmental self-care” refers to care required as individuals grow and develop. This includes learning how to control their emotions, managing relationships and their finances.
3. It is important to take care of yourself if you have an illness or a condition. You may need to manage your symptoms, follow a plan for treatment and seek medical help.

In the self-care hypothesis, it is assumed that people have an inherent desire to look after themselves. Therefore, nursing interventions are designed to enhance and support this natural ability. The nurses should evaluate the ability of an individual to care for themselves and offer education and support in order to achieve self-care goals. They should collaborate with patients to help identify self-care deficiencies and assist them in becoming self-sufficient.

This theory of self-care relies on certain assumptions.

1. People can take care of them selves.
2. It is the individual’s responsibility to take care of themselves.
3. Nursing care should help individuals achieve self-care objectives.
4. The nurses should work with the individual to determine their deficits in self-care and help them achieve self-care independence.

Self-care has significant implications for nursing. Nurses must assess self-care capabilities of patients and then provide them with education and assistance to reach their own self-care goals. The nurses should work with the individuals to determine their deficits in self-care and help them achieve self-care autonomy. The nursing approach emphasizes that individuals should be empowered to play a role in their well-being and health. Self-care is a way for nurses to help people achieve better health and quality of living.