Dignity Theory In Nursing

Part A
As part of my studies of the Perspectives on nursing module I have been assigned to examine dignity as a value which underpins nursing practice. Dignity is a multi-faceted concept and can be defined as ‘’ The state or quality of being worthy of honour or respect’ (https://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/dignity, 2015)’. Respect for the dignity of the person is the number one principle of the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for Registered Nurses and Midwives (NMBI, 2014). Also, this principle notably finds its origins in the Universal Declaration of human rights (United Nations, 1948) (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, 2014). Throughout this piece I will emphasize how this principle interacts with nursing

Orem’s Self-Care Deficit theory includes 3 constituent theories, namely; the theory of self-care, the self-care deficit theory and theory of nursing systems. The theory states that an individual as an obligation to tend to their own needs. The person has a right and responsibility to engage in continuous self-maintenance, the capability to do so is termed an ‘’agency’’ ( Denyes, Orem and Bekel , 2001). In a nursing environment promoting independence is integral to practice, as with the thinking behind Orem’s theory , ‘’Implementing interventions to maintain a sense of control over their own experience of health maintenance promotes better outcome’s ‘’ (O’Shaughnessy ,2014). In practice ,using the self-care theory , the individual efficiently attends to their own need and also maintains their

As assessment is integral to the nursing process it is also incorporated into nursing models. Assessment is necessary during all nursing activities e.g. assisting an individual with their hygiene needs, taking observations or during repositioning/manual handling techniques. Orem’s model is a particularly effective tool in carrying out assessment as it has a practical approach in identifying patients’ needs by encompassing their universal, developmental and health deviation self-care deficits. ‘’Having a conceptual nursing model to practice may enable nurses to gather a detailed database that identifies actual and potential healthcare problems’’ (Capers, 1986). The grid, checklist format is a simple, fast and straightforward assessment guide and can be very useful in practice.
Any given ward or healthcare environment may choose to implement a nursing model to guide its practice and philosophy. The theoretical framework of Orem’s model can aid knowledge based practice (Anonymous, 2010). As the model encompasses all aspects of the nursing process and acknowledges deficits that are not only a problem at ward level , but for the person post discharges , it is helpful in delivery quality, holistic, care from admission to discharge, allowing for discharge planning. Due to this approach we can derive that the model is beneficial to delivering care at all