Orem Theory

Grand Nursing Theorist Assignment: Grand Theorist Report
Dorothea E. Orem is one of the many grand theorists based on human needs. Her theory is based on three different theories which are self-care, self-care deficit, and nursing system (Orem, 1995, 2001).   Over the years her concept has adapted to the changing nursing times. The main concept of Orem is that “nursing is seen as an art through which the practitioner of nursing gives specialized assistance to persons with disabilities which makes more than ordinary assistance to meet needs for self-care” (Orem, 1995, 2001, p.56). In this assignment we are going to further discuss Dorothea E. Orem and the value of her theory to the nursing progression.
Biography & Influences
Dorothea Elizabeth Orem, born on July 15th 1914 in Baltimore, Maryland was a famous nurse who was widely regarded as a leading nursing theorist. Orem’s theory which is known as the Self-Care theory is still applied to nursing practice in modern day nursing arenas (Wayne, 2014). Dorothea came from a modest family with a father who was a construction worker and a mother who was primarily a homemaker. She had one older sister (Wayne, 2014).   Ms. Orem graduated from high school in 1931 after which she went on to attend Providence Hospital School of Nursing in Washington DC, where she received a diploma nursing degree. Shortly after becoming a nurse, Ms. Orem continued her education and received her Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN) in 1939 at the Catholic University of America followed by her Master’s of Science Degree in Nursing (MSN) in 1945 at the same university (Wayne, 2014).   Orem, being no stranger to higher education, was awarded an honorary Doctorate degree of Science from Georgetown University, and Incarnate Word College in San Antonio Texas (Lara, “n.d.”).   In 1988 Dorothea Orem graduated from University of Missouri in Columbia, Doctor Honoris Causae (Lara, “n.d.”)
Orem’s career was impressive and distinguished. Beginning as a...