Self-Care Deficit Theory

Dorothea Orem: Self-Care Deficit Theory of Nursing

In this paper, several topics will be discussed in relation to Dorothea E. Orem and her Self-care deficit theory. We will cover Orem’s credential and background, the type of theory and focus, theoretical sources, major concepts and definitions, major assumptions, and utilization of Orem’s theory. Orem’s theory of self-care deficit is a large influence in nursing, even to this day. It is important to understand the theory to be able to apply it to ever day nursing practice.

Credentials and Background

Dorothea Elizabeth Orem was born in 1914 in Baltimore, Maryland. Orem graduated from Seton High School in Baltimore in 1931 and from the Providence Hospital School of Nursing in Washington,

After earning her advanced degrees, Orem also practiced in diverse roles such as a consultant, director, professor, theorist, and author (Masters, 2015). However, Dorothea Orem came to fame with the self-care deficit theory of nursing.

Orem’s Self -Care Deficit Theory of nursing was formulated in 1956 and 1959, introducing a basic idea of the self-care- framework. Orem refined her work in 1985 and presented the three theories related to the self-care framework. In 1986, Orem retired in Savannah, Georgia and died 2007 (Masters, 2015). Nevertheless, Orem’s work is influential in the nursing profession, and the Self-care Deficit theory is one of the most commonly used nursing theories in the practice

The explicit assumptions in relation to Orem’s theory focus on the profession of nursing being “a deliberate, purposeful helping service performed by nurses”, how self-care is a learned and necessary part of life that can be influenced by education and culture, and how each person exhibits their own qualities throughout life (Masters, 2015, p. 159). The implicit assumptions focus on how “people should be self-reliant and responsible for their own care needs as well as others in the family who are not able to care for themselves” (Masters, 2015, p.159). The implicit assumptions allude to the fact that every human being is different from those around them, and cultures and environments are different as well, providing shape and influence throughout an individual’s