Final answer:
Orem's nursing theories focus on patient self-care and independence, with emphasis on the nurse's role to educate and empower patients to take charge of their own health. Nurses use these theories to assess self-care deficits and provide appropriate interventions to improve patients' self-care capabilities.
Step-by-step explanation:
Orem's nursing theories, specifically the Self-Care Deficit Theory, can be quite useful in guiding nursing practice. According to Orem's theory, the role of nurses is to help patients perform self-care activities to maintain or improve human functioning at home level effectivity. This includes providing support, teaching, and helping to design environments that promote successful self-care by individuals.
For instance, a nurse applying Orem's theories might assess a patient's ability to perform their own glucose checks for diabetes management. If a deficit is found, the nurse would work to educate the patient and provide the resources necessary to achieve self-care, while also supporting the family for a holistic care approach.
This theory emphasizes patient empowerment and education, pushing for a collaborative nurse-patient relationship where the patient is an active participant in their own care. In doing so, nurses facilitate patient independence and agency, which is a vital part of holistic and long-term health management, adhering to the principles of promoting individualized care and patients' self-reliance.