"Nursing Theories: A Comparison"

Paper Summary:

This paper relates that the role of a nurse has been redefined to include sub specialties and responsibilities in order to compensate for the shortage of health care professionals. The paper also relates that the very fundamental concepts of nursing, however, still apply to this day. The paper then goes on to discuss the two nursing theories that are at the heart of these concepts: Dorothea Orem's Self-Care Deficit Theory and Katharine Kolcaba's Comfort Theory. The paper states that these two theories have both been ascribed as descriptive of what nursing should be. The paper discusses these two concepts as well as the differences and similarities of both concepts together with the practical application of each of the theories.

From the Paper:

"These two theories speak of the fulfilment of certain needs. These needs must be fulfilled to allow a person to survive or overcome a present predicament. Both discuss on finding a solution to that need. A requisite and a discomfort are the same. It speaks of an inadequacy in one's physical, mental, social, or emotional state. Both are described as one of the foundations of nursing. However, it should be pointed out that self-care theory places responsibility on the very person in need to fulfil that deficit. Self-care behaviours are learned through time, or are innate behaviours. Self-care needs are different from a nurse fulfilling these needs. The role of a nurse in this case is to teach a person how to be self-reliant."

Outline:
Dorothea Orem's Self-Care Deficit Theory
Kolcaba's Comfort Theory
Compare and Contrast Theories of Self-care and Comfort

Sample of Sources Used:

• Denyes, M. J., Orem, D. E., and Bekel, G. (2001). "Self-care: a foundation science." Nursing Science Quarterly, 14(1): 48-54.
• Fawcett, J. (2001). "The nurse theorists: 21st century updates - Dorothea E. Orem." Nursing Science Quarterly, 14(1): 34-38.
• Kolcaba, K. (20 Nov 2007). The Comfort Line. [Online.] Retrieved 25 March 2008 from the Web site: http://www.thecomfortline.com/
• Kolcaba, K. Y. (1993). "A theory of holistic comfort for nursing." Journal of Advanced Nursing, 19: 1178-1184.
• Kolcaba, K. Y. and Kolcaba, R. J. (1991). "An analysis of the concept of comfort." Journal of Advanced Nursing, 16: 1301-1310.

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