Achieving self-care in the ventilator-dependent patient: a critical analysis of a case study

After a 4 month hospitalization, a 41-yr-old woman with multiple sclerosis was discharged to her home with a mechanical ventilator and 24 hr nursing care. The relevance of Orem's Self-Care theory and nursing diagnosis to successful discharge are clearly illustrated through the presentation and analysis of a case study. The compatibility of self-care theory and nursing diagnosis are also discussed. Advancing medical technology and societal mandates for cost containment increasingly confront families with the need to provide sophisticated health care in home settings. Case study analysis not only provides opportunities for clarification and refinement of nursing's role in this developing challenge but also demonstrates the uniqueness and suitability of the nursing discipline for leadership in complex home care management.