Theory Evaluation: Self-Care Deficit

Answer

Theory Evaluation: Self-Care Deficit   

            Self-care is one of the important concepts within the field of nursing. This essay examines Dorothea Orem’s self-care deficit theory. The major aspects examined include the validity, generalizability, strengths, weaknesses, and the congruency of the theory to nursing standards and interventions.

Validity

            The Dorothea Orem’s theory Self-Care theory is considered as a valid framework since it has been empirically tested and effectively implemented in different nursing situations. According to Kaur (2014), the theory has been effectively implemented within a community context including children with disability. Notably, while examining the social determinants of health as outlined under the theory, different strategies of universal care which can be considered for the identified for the outlined population are effectively identified to enhance the health of the members of the presented population. Moreover, the theory is valid because it is consistent with other laws and principles of self-care common within the field of nursing.

Generalizability

            The theory of self-care is relatively simple and generalizable. Evidently, the theory is founded on a hypothesis which can be tested. Additionally, the outlined theory contributes to and offers assistances in enhancing the body of knowledge available within the nursing discipline through a research implemented to ensure validation. Moreover, it is also a fact that the self-care theory can be utilized by nurses and other healthcare practitioners to enhance the nursing practice.

Strengths

            The self-care deficit theory is defined by several strengths. Kaur (2014) states that the theory offers a broad base to the field of nursing since the major principle which guides the staff members is to offer effective care to the patients. The theory is also effective since it outlines a self-care approach which is contemporary and associated with the concepts of health maintenance and promotion. Moreover, Kaur (2014) records that the theory has a utility for professional nursing in different segments of nursing practice, nursing research and nursing education administration.

Limitations

            The self-care deficit theory is considered to be complex in nature. Evidently, the self-care is utilized in various terms such as self-care demand, self-care agency, self-care deficit, and universal self-care which can be confusing when it comes to the actual implementation of the framework. Additionally, the theory is defines health as a factor which is confined within three static conditions evident under the “concrete nursing system” which suggest the rigidity of the framework when it comes to its actual implementation. Moreover, the theory is also associated with the limitation of having a limited acknowledgement of the emotional needs of an individual which is further overlooked when it comes to devising self-care strategies (Shah, Abdullah & Khan, 2015).

Congruency to Nursing Standards

            The self-care deficit theory is congruent to nursing standards since it is a general theory implemented within the field of nursing today. Evidently, the theory abides by the self-care standards in that it identifies several self-care requisites evident under the health-deviation, development and universal categories (Shah, Abdullah & Khan, 2015). The theory is also congruent with nursing interventions since it is an effective tool which nurses can utilize to apply their interventions and encourage patients to be independent enough to care for themselves. Shah, Abdullah and Khan (2015) show that the self-care deficit theory relies on the nursing process as a method of determining the self-care deficits of the patient and further defining the nursing roles to ensure that the demands of the patient’s self-care are met.