Foundations of Nursing: Introduction to Nursing and Orem's Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory" provides an overview of the discipline of nursing and an introduction to Orem's theory using primarily non-theoretical, concrete terms to explain the ideas of the theory for those unfamiliar with it, specifically for undergraduate students. Use of everyday language coupled with examples and practice exercises provide interactive application. These foundational units provide a sound base for more advanced theoretical study, developed in part in response to students' reluctance to read directly from Orem's book (2001), stating they felt overwhelmed by the abstract level of writing and length. (That book is now out of print.) This book offers a basis for learning a nursing perspective, particularly for theory-based nursing. The book begins with a chapter asserting and discussing the importance of learning and using nursing theory as a framework for practice. The succeeding chapters discuss each of Orem's theories in turn, with application activities and self-tests.

About the author

J. E. Ransom is an Associate Professor of Nursing at the University of Toledo College of Nursing in Toledo, OH. She has taught Orem's theory to undergraduate and graduate students for close to 30 years. She holds a BSN degree from The Ohio State University, a MSN from Wayne State University, and a PhD in nursing from Case Western Reserve University. She has made several presentations based on theory to colleagues locally and internationally.

Chapter 1: Introduction to Nursing and Nursing Theory The Discipline of Nursing * Theoretical Description of Nursing * Types of Knowledge Useful to Nurses * Theory Used In Nursing: Borrowed and Unique

Chapter 2: Philosophical Basis and Need for Nursing Philosophical basis and underlying values for Orem's self-care deficit nursing theory * Nursing: Establishing a need for nursing care

Chapter 3: Theory of Self-Care Overview of Theories within the self-care deficit nursing theory * Theory of self-care

Chapter 4: Theory of Self-Care Deficit Self-Care Deficit * Capabilities and Limitations in Knowing * Capabilities and Limitations in Judging/Deciding * Capabilities and Limitations in Acting

Chapter 5: Theory of Nursing Systems Focus of Care: Individuals, Families, Groups or Aggregates and Communities * Nursing Agency: Social, Interpersonal, and Technologic Aspects * Nursing Systems * Types of Requisites