Nightingale’s Environmental Theory and Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Theory

Environmental Theory

Self-Care Deficit

In Florence Nightingale’s Environmental Theory, there is a strong focus on the environment, namely clean air and water. The practical application of compliance with such sanitary standards, supplemented by the need for cleanliness and interaction with nature, is bearing fruit. Working with the environment is highly effective against infectious diseases with a high degree of contagiousness, especially in a pandemic (Gilbert, 2020). Almost all the principles of this theory are now an integral part of practice recommendations. Many countries are only now beginning the transition to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and therefore clean, and purified air is a crucial need for any healthcare facility. Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Theory suggests that patients recover better when they retain some independence regarding self-care. The lack of the ability to carry out the usual daily activities of the patient negatively affects the mental state, causing depression and disorders. Accordingly, the application of this theory in practice has found itself with particular success in psychiatry, where the patient’s mental status is the leading monitored indicator of health (Ali, 2018). Patients in taking care of themselves gain confidence and the ability to make informed decisions that are beneficial for themselves, and these processes are often associated with socialization (Ali, 2018). As a result, the risk of additional mental ailments is reduced, and the fight against the underlying disease is better.

Cultural Care Theory

Finally, the theory of cultural care, which implies care following beliefs, religion, and traditions, also has relatively high success rates in practice. The importance of applying theory to practice is explained by including research and additional subjects during nursing education (Liang et al., 2019). This theory has found its best application in such vital processes as caring for the elderly, as well as during childbirth. The first case involves caring for an adult with established attitudes and beliefs to be respected to achieve a practical outcome (Couto et al., 2018). The second case relates to an important event in the life of a family, often accompanied by various rituals that have become increasingly available in medical settings to meet the spiritual needs of mothers and fathers (Coutinho et al., 2019). As a result, in the era of globalization, the application of such a theory remains exceptionally relevant.

References

Ali, B. H. I. (2018). Application of Orem self care deficit theory on psychiatric patient. Annals of Nursing and Practice, 5(1), 1-3. Web.

Coutinho, E., Amaral, S., Parreira, M. V. B. D. C., Chaves, C. B., Amaral, O., & Nelas, P. (2019). Nurses-puerperal mothers interaction: searching for cultural care. Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem, 72, 910-917. Web.

Couto, A. M. D., Caldas, C. P., & Castro, E. A. B. D. (2018). Family caregiver of older adults and Cultural Care in Nursing care. Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem, 71, 959-966. Web.

Gilbert, H. A. (2020). Florence Nightingale’s Environmental Theory and its influence on contemporary infection control. Collegian, 27(6), 626-633. Web.

Liang, H. F., Wu, K. M., Hung, C. C., Wang, Y. H., & Chen, Y. C. (2019). Evaluation of nursing students’ perceptions of their cultural care competency: A mixed method study in Taiwan. Nurse Education in Practice, 41, 102639. Web.