DOROTHEA OREM: BIOGRAPHY AND THEORY - MEDICINE - 2025

Dorothea Orem was one of the most renowned researchers in the nursing area in the United States. The development of concepts around nursing as a practical science was one of the main fields in which this nurse, professor and researcher theorized.

One of his primary contributions consisted of a performance model for this health profession. He himself linked it with the care of convalescent people. This model helped to develop a consistent foundation for nursing.

In addition, he contributed to lay the foundations of this knowledge, putting it in tune with the theoretical instruments of modern sciences. Orem also considered the notion of self-care as a fundamental aspect. He pointed it out as the routine practices that individuals carry out around the care and maintenance of their personal health and well-being.

Biography

Dorothea Orem was born in the United States on July 15, 1914, specifically in Baltimore, Maryland. It is known from her father that she was a builder and that she enjoyed fishing.

It is known from her mother that she was a woman dedicated to the home and that she used her free time to dedicate it to reading. Dorothea was the younger of two sisters.

On June 22, 2007 he passed away in Savannah, Giorgia, United States, at the age of 92. He left behind a productive career in the health area, not only from the point of view of practice, but also from an intellectual point of view.

Studies

Orem did his schooling with the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul. He then continued his training with the Sisters of Charity at Providence Hospital in Washington DC

There she was awarded a diploma in nursing at the young age of 16. Later, at the Catholic University of America, she received a degree in Nursing Education Sciences, and in 1946 she completed a master's degree in the same area.

Professional life

Dorothea Orem developed professionally in different areas of the nursing profession. Her early experiences took place in a variety of settings both at Providence Hospital Washington DC and at St. John's Hospital, Lowell, Massachusetts.

Among the roles played in these care centers are: nursing in the surgical area, experience as a private nurse both in hospitals and at home, member of the hospital care team in pediatric and adult medical services, and night supervisor in the emergency department.

All these practices were carried out by this professional under the motto of dedication and excellence.

New work stage

After having consolidated his training at the higher education level, Orem gained a wealth of experience. It was then that he pursued his purposes based on the areas of teaching, research and administration.

He taught the chairs of Biological Sciences and Nursing from 1939 to 1941. He was in charge of the direction of the School of Nursing at Providence Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, for 10 years. Likewise, she served as an assistant and adjunct professor at the Catholic University of America.

He even served as the Dean of the Nursing School of the aforementioned university between 1965 and 1966.

She then served as an advisor and consultant to institutions such as the Indiana State Board of Health, the US Office of Education, and the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare.

She also worked in the Jhons Hopkins Hospital Nursing Development and Experiment Center and in the Wilmer Clinic Nursing Directorate.

Theory

In Dorothea Orem's theoretical construction the concept of person is fundamental. Orem develops it as a biological, rational and thinking organism that can be affected by the environment.

From there, Orem's theory indicates that the person is capable of carrying out predetermined actions that affect them, as well as others and their environment. All of the above gives you conditions to fulfill your own care.

Nursing definition

Dorothea Orem also points out her own definition of nursing, which consists of providing people with direct assistance in their self-care. It will be provided based on their own demands, and due to insufficient capacities due to the personal situations of individuals or groups of people.

Other fundamental notions are those of health, self-care, nursing, the environment and the nurse-patient-family relationship.

All this conceptualization carried out by Orem gave solidity to a highly mature theoretical device. So much so, that it served as an inescapable reference in the field of modern nursing and public health policies.

Based on this concept, he created the self-care deficit theory as an area of ​​knowledge composed of three interrelated sub-theories: self-care, self-care deficit, and nursing systems.

This theory developed and explained by Orem came to be called the Orem Model, and made it worthy of numerous awards and publications.

Publications

This nurse was the author of various publications. Among the published works are the Orem Model and Practical Nursing Standards. The latter deals with the role of nursing from practice. This book saw the light for the first time in 1971 and then it was reissued for five years, which denotes the importance of this work.

In addition, his intellectual work encompassed a variety of activities. These include workshops, conferences, popular articles and scientific articles. In all these he disclosed his model of self-care deficit.

With this model, he conceptualized the relationship between person, care, self-care, environment, nursing system and health.

Recognitions

Dorothea Orem received various recognitions during her lifetime, mostly in the country where she developed her career.

To mention a few, we can mention that Georgetown University awarded him an honorary doctorate of science in 1976. And in 1980 he obtained the Alumni Association Award for the theory developed.

References

1. S / D. Dorothea Orem (2017). Mexico City. Recovered in who.net
2. Naranjo Hernández, Ydalsys and others (2017). The Self-Care Deficit Theory: Dorothea Elizabeth Orem. Recovered at: revmespirituana.sld.cu.
3. Franco Montoya, Paula A. (2013). Self-care deficit, Dorothea Elizabeth Orem. Recovered in modelsenfermerosucaldas.blogspot.com
4. Lugo Espinosa, Kathie and Cruz, Yanille. Self-care theory - Dorothea Orem. Recovered in es.slideshare.net
5. Gil Wayne, RN (2014). Dorothea E. Orem. Recovered at nurseslabs.com