y can be subdivided into three component hypotheses. These include the following: (1) the theory of self-care; (2) the theory of self-care deficit; and (3) the theory of nursing systems. There are various assumptions which underlie these three components. For one, Orem's theory assumes that human beings require continuous deliberate inputs to themselves and their environments in order to remain alive. Second, the power to act deliberately (i.e., human agency) is employed to identify needs and make the necessary inputs. Third, people are at times limited in their ability to care for themselves and others. Four, human agency is exercised to compensate for these limitations. Finally, the fifth assumption, asserts that groups of human beings with "structured relationships cluster tasks and allocate responsibilities for providing care to group members who experience privations for making required deliberate input to self and others" (Eben et al., n.g., pp. 181-190).
According to Orem's theory, self-care is "an adult's continuous contribution to his or her own continued existence, health and well-being" (Bartle, 1991, p. 35). It is generally learned, goal-oriented activity accomplished by individuals in concrete life situations. Its purpose is to regulate factors which affect the individual's "development, life, health, or well-being" (Eben et al., n.g., pp. 181-190).
In contrast to the self-care concepts, Orem's theory of self-care deficit describes why people can be helped through nursing. The model contains three self-care requisites describing those internal and external conditions that both maintain human structure and function, and also support human development and maturation. They include the following: (1) universal; (2) developmental; and (3) health-deviation. Universal self-care requisites are "common to all human beings" (Eben et al., n.g., pp. 181-190). They include the following needs: (1) the mainten...