Nursing Theory Comparison Essay

There are many astounding nurse theorists with amazing, influential theories for any nurse to integrate into their practice. Every nurse has had one or more theorists that they can relate to more than another throughout their profession. For this nurse, Sister Callista Roy’s Adaptation Model of Nursing and Dorothea Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory are two nursing theories that have made an impact in my practice. Within this paper, an understanding of each theory and a contrast and comparison of the two theories will be completed.
Sister Callista Roy developed the Adaptation Model of Nursing in 1976. This model takes a holistic approach. It asks three main questions in regard to nursing care: Whom is it for? What is the goal? and When is it needed? The model is based on three broad concepts: person, nurse, and adaptation. Adaptation is broken into four subcategories: “physiological, self-concept, role function and interdependence” ("Sister Callista Roy," 2016, p. 1). Physiological refers to the basic needs a human requires to function. Self-concept refers to the way a person views
“Orem and Roy both support health promotion and health maintenance” (Punjani, 2013, p.3). Both of these theories, take a holistic approach when caring for the patient, not just focusing on the illness at hand, but their environment. These theories agree that a patient’s environment plays a key role in how they cope and function. Even though there are similarities between these two theories, the differences are what set them apart. The major difference between the two theories is the role of the nurse. Orem views the nurse as an interventionist. The nurse only provides assistance to the patient, when the patient can no longer do for themselves. Roy, on the other hand, views the nurse as an advocate for the patient. The nurse helps to manipulate the concepts to make a positive experience for the patient (Punjani,