Nursing Theory Concepts

Clinical nursing practice should be guided by nursing theory. Patient care situations need to be viewed within the context of theoretical frameworks. There are different ways of evaluating such frameworks. For example, historicists typically base hypotheses on important past events. In contrast, the theoretical sciences are mainly interested in finding and testing universal laws. Dorothea Orem's general theory of nursing defines the need for nursing care. In contrast, Gerald Caplan's theory of crisis intervention describes a rationale for dealing with certain psychiatric patients. Together, these two theories may help define the interaction between nurses and their patients.

Dorothea Orem's General Theory of Nursing--The Idea:

Dorothea Elizabeth Orem was a preeminent nursing theorist whose concepts direct nursing practice. Her general theory of nursing describes the profession as a complex form of deliberate interpersonal action. Nurses should ultimately provide a therapeutic human health service. Orem's theory specifically focuses on the nurse's approach towards persons who are limited in their ability to take care of themselves (Fawcett, 1995, pp. 277-374). According to Orem (cited in Humphreys, 1995, pp. 9-11), "individuals take actions to meet others' health-related needs" (Humphreys, 1995, pp. 9-11). Dependent care consists of those actions which people

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atients are able to learn to perform self-care (i.e., patients who only need assistance in "decision making, behavior control, and gaining knowledge of skills") (Mehta, 1993, pp. 182-185). In general though, throughout the course of their care, patients should be allowed to move from one nursing system to another. Gerald Caplan's Crisis Intervention Theory--The Idea: The crisis theory can be used as a form of preventive psychiatry (Cutler, 1993, p. 363). Preventive interventions consist of those actions which will ultimately improve mental health outcome. Primary prevention attempts to reduce the incidence of various psychosocial disorders in populations not currently suffering from the conditions (Caplan, 1964, pp. 16-17). It involves addressing risk factors that may increase the chances that such disorders develop. Various psychological stresses, for example, may promote crises (Caplan, 1993, p. 368). How well a person deals with such stresses depends on their current psychological competence as well as the influence of social supports (Caplan, 1980, pp. 671-680). According to crisis theory, it is the psychiatrist's responsibility to guide patients through periods of stress. This will prevent the development of mental i
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Approximate Word count = 3167
Approximate Pages = 13 (250 words per page)

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