Orem's self-care model: is it relevant to patients in intensive care?

Nursing care in the intensive therapy unit has tended to follow a medical model and has concentrated on the physical needs of the patient. With the emergence of nursing models intensive care nurses are beginning to question more than previously the care that they are giving. The use of a structured model gives direction to patient care and potentially benefits both the patient and the nurse. However it is necessary to examine closely the relevance of the model to the area of nursing, the needs of the individual patient and the philosophy held by the nurses in that area. Over recent years Orem's self-care model has become popular. This paper considers the major concepts of the model in relation to the intensive therapy unit and the possible benefits and difficulties of applying the model to this area. It is concluded that although the possibilities of achieving self-care for the critically ill patient are limited the use of the model encourages an individualised approach to care and heightens awareness of the patient as a whole.