Analysis and application of Dorothea Orem's Self-Care Practice Model

Curriculum design in nursing education has become an increasingly sophisticated process throughout the past decade. "Theories" of nursing have emerged, and have become the basis for various curricula models. One model which is relevant to nursing education, practice and research, is that of Dorothea Orem. Nurse educators are constantly bombared with material regarding various nursing "theories." Each nurse educator would benefit by having some familiarity with the models of the major theorists of our day. Dorothea Orem's theory is the basis for numerous curricula across the country. Since curriculum design and redesign affords faculty the opportunity to pursue alternative approaches to the present blueprint of their academic program, material must be succinctly presented which affords one an overview of such theories as that of Orem. This paper is an attempt to address that need.