APPLICATION OF DOROTHEA OREM’S SELF-CARE DEFICIT NURSING THEORY IN PRACTICE: A CASE STUDY

Abstract

Background: Nursing theories can provide a systematic framework for identifying patients’ self-care needs and guiding individualized nursing care. Case Presentation: A 28-year-old male was admitted to the intensive care unit after a severe road traffic accident and developed acute respiratory failure with multiple traumatic injuries. He required mechanical ventilation for 20 days and, following extubation, remained dependent on nursing staff because of respiratory compromise, generalized weakness, impaired airway clearance, reduced mobility, and dependence in activities of daily living. Application of Theory: Dorothea Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory was applied to identify the patient’s self-care deficits, self-care requisites, and appropriate nursing system. Nursing interventions included airway-clearance measures, oxygen monitoring and therapy, enteral feeding support, repositioning, skin assessment, oral care, breathing exercises, and gradual participation in self-care activities. Conclusion: Orem’s framework provided a structured approach for identifying the gap between the patient’s self-care agency and therapeutic self-care demand and for planning compensatory and participatory nursing interventions during recovery.