Compare and contrast two nursing theories.

Compare and contrast two nursing theories.

Compare and contrast two nursing theories.

Nursing Theories

The selected theories for comparison are Nightingale’s theory and Dorothea Orem’s theory. Nightingale developed the environmental theory. The theory asserts the importance of environment in facilitating the healing and recovery of patients from their health problems. According to Nightingale, environmental factors such as clean water, adequate sanitation, light and cleanliness are important for healing. The role of the nurse in Nightingale’s theory is to put the patient in best environment for nature to facilitate the healing process (Suhonen et al., 2018). Orem developed the self-care theory. The theory posits that individuals have the ability to perform their self-care with the aim of maintaining health, life and wellbeing. According to Orem, nurses have an essential role to play in assisting patients to meet their self-care needs if they lack the power and ability to do so. They provide the necessary support for patients to undertake their activities of the daily living such as elimination, intake of sufficient food and water, and balance between rest, activities, social interaction and solitude (McEwen & Wills, 2018).

The similarity between Nightingale and Orem’s theories lie on the fact that they recognize the lack of independence by the patients. Nurses assist patients in meeting their health needs. The difference however lies on the fact that the nurse works with the patient in Orem’s theory while the nurse transforms the environment for it to facilitate healing in Nightingale’s theory (Alligood, 2017). I am most likely to use Orem’s theory in future role as a nurse educator. I believe that nursing students do not have the knowledge and skills related to nursing. As a result, nurse educators play a critical role in facilitating knowledge and skill acquisition by nursing students by developing a positive relationship with them. Nurse educators assist nursing students to identify their competencies and ways of optimizing the care outcomes of their patients (Im & Meleis, 2021). The philosophy aligns with that of Orem’s theory, hence, its use in my future practice.

Compare and contrast two nursing theories. References

Alligood, M. R. (2017). Nursing Theorists and Their Work. Elsevier.

Im, E.-O., & Meleis, A. I. (2021). Situation Specific Theories: Development, Utilization, and Evaluation in Nursing. Springer Nature.

McEwen, M., & Wills, E. M. (2018). Theoretical Basis for Nursing. Wolters Kluwer.

Suhonen, R., Stolt, M., & Papastavrou, E. (2018). Individualized Care: Theory, Measurement, Research and Practice. Springer.