Final answer:
Dorothea Orem is the nursing theorist who wrote the "self-care theory." Her theory is fundamental in nursing education and emphasizes the importance of patient's independence in self-care activities with the nurse's supportive role.
Step-by-step explanation:
The self-care theory in nursing was developed by Dorothea Orem. This theory, also known as Orem's Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory, is significant in the field of nursing as it emphasizes the role of self-care in the health and well-being of individuals. Orem's theory focuses on the nurse's role in supporting and guiding individuals who are unable to perform self-care actions for themselves due to a health limitation or lack of knowledge, skills, or motivation. The theory outlines how nurses can help patients or clients meet their own care needs, thus fostering independence and self-reliance. It's one of the core theories taught in nursing education and applied in clinical settings.
Florence Nightingale, who is mentioned in the distractors, is known for her foundational role in modern nursing but did not develop the self-care theory. Virginia Henderson and Hildegard Peplau made significant contributions to nursing theory as well but are known for different concepts; Henderson for the Nursing Need Theory and Peplau for the Interpersonal Relations Theory.
Thus, the correct answer to the question is C) Dorothea Orem. She is the nursing theorist responsible for formulating the well-known self-care theory in the nursing discipline.