Roy Adaptation Model
Nursing Theorist: Roy Adaptation Model
Jeanette Ratliff, RN
Chamberlain College of Nursing
Course Number:
Summer 2011
Nursing Theorist: Roy Adaptation Model Sister Callista Roy was not only a pioneer in the field of nursing, but also a leader. Her dedication to the health community is inarguable. As serving numerous roles as leader, her thoughts and visions touched many. One example of her mark in nursing is the Roy Adaptation Model. It is in this model that health is defined as a state of adaptation that occurs as a result of successfully adapting to stressors. It is a positive response to an environmental change as well as coping successfully with stressors and environmental changes. Roy defines the environment in terms of individual’s external surroundings and influences that affect a person’s development. Adaptation can be applied to terms of health or illness. Because both health and illness are not concrete terms, a continuum of the two serve as an example of Roy’s model and it’s adaptability to abstract terms. Her model serves as a picture of reality. Perhaps it is less important that our society sees change and self-concept as critical, and thus create a reality that makes the Roy Adaptation Model an effective conceptual model for nurses (Andrews and Roy, 1991).
Major Concepts of the Theory Within the Roy Adaptation Model (RAM), there are four major concepts. The first concept places emphasis on humans as an adaptive system. Roy focuses on man as being an adaptive system which can function as an individual or within a group setting. By using a holistic approach to conceptualize the human system, George (2002) reiterates how Roy places emphasis on holism, and its overall core to her model. Roy describes man as a feedback system that has inputs and outputs, as well as controls and feedback. It is in this component of the model that Roy defines the four modes of the human adaptive response as physiological, self-concept, role function, and
Jeanette Ratliff, RN
Chamberlain College of Nursing
Course Number:
Summer 2011
Nursing Theorist: Roy Adaptation Model Sister Callista Roy was not only a pioneer in the field of nursing, but also a leader. Her dedication to the health community is inarguable. As serving numerous roles as leader, her thoughts and visions touched many. One example of her mark in nursing is the Roy Adaptation Model. It is in this model that health is defined as a state of adaptation that occurs as a result of successfully adapting to stressors. It is a positive response to an environmental change as well as coping successfully with stressors and environmental changes. Roy defines the environment in terms of individual’s external surroundings and influences that affect a person’s development. Adaptation can be applied to terms of health or illness. Because both health and illness are not concrete terms, a continuum of the two serve as an example of Roy’s model and it’s adaptability to abstract terms. Her model serves as a picture of reality. Perhaps it is less important that our society sees change and self-concept as critical, and thus create a reality that makes the Roy Adaptation Model an effective conceptual model for nurses (Andrews and Roy, 1991).
Major Concepts of the Theory Within the Roy Adaptation Model (RAM), there are four major concepts. The first concept places emphasis on humans as an adaptive system. Roy focuses on man as being an adaptive system which can function as an individual or within a group setting. By using a holistic approach to conceptualize the human system, George (2002) reiterates how Roy places emphasis on holism, and its overall core to her model. Roy describes man as a feedback system that has inputs and outputs, as well as controls and feedback. It is in this component of the model that Roy defines the four modes of the human adaptive response as physiological, self-concept, role function, and