[Self-care theory: critical analysis of its usefulness in nursing practice]

This study aims at evaluating the usefulness of Orem's theory of self-care, applied to the hypertense woman. The analysis criteria of nursing theories are classified into Internal and External Criteria. The usefulness of the theory, as one of the Internal Criteria, considers that the theory be useful when applied to professional practicing, be it in assistance, teaching, research or in administration. It has been found out that the theory is based on the basic needs of development. The application of the model in the health-disease cycle delimited the usefulness of Orem's self-care theory.