Peer Response:
Length: A minimum of 180 words per post, not including references
Citations: At least two high-level scholarly reference in APA per post from within the last 5 years
I will utilize Dorothea Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory as the guiding framework for my capstone project. The objective of my research is to analyze the impact of varying degrees of sternal precautions on the outcomes of patients after cardiac surgery. In doing so, I aim to establish the relevance of Orem’s theory.
Poor self-care on the basis of nursing theory, self-care is beneficial for patients in terms of their recovery and overall health maintenance (Yip, 2021). The idea consists of three interconnected hypotheses: self-care, self-care inadequacy, and nursing systems. Self-care refers to the capacity to attend to one’s own needs in order to maintain one’s existence, physical condition, and overall state of being. The self-care deficiency hypothesis refers to a situation in which a patient requires nursing assistance due to their inability to independently take care of themselves (Yip, 2021). The nursing systems theory finishes by outlining the strategies that nurses might employ to effectively satisfy these needs.
In my capstone project, I employed Orem’s theory to emphasize the need of allowing patients to independently oversee their treatment following surgery. Modified sternal precautions allows patients to have increased movement and maybe enhance their ability to take care of themselves. Orem’s focus on patient autonomy and active participation in healthcare may help to decrease the disparity in self-care (Yip, 2021).
Typically, strict sternal precautions limit upper body movements such as lifting, pushing, and tugging in order to prevent the separation of the sternal wound. These measures serve to safeguard the surgical site, although they may also restrict a patient’s regular activities, so prolonging the need for nursing care and recuperation (Holloway, et al, 2020). Due to the inability of patients to carry out essential self-care activities, there is a possibility of an extended self-care deficit.
On the other hand, modified sternal precautions advocate for a more equitable strategy, enabling patients to resume a majority of their usual activities earlier, with appropriate restrictions (Gach, et al, 2021). By encouraging movement and independence, this can potentially enhance both physical and emotional well-being (Holloway, et al 2020). Patients have enhanced well-being and recovery as they are able to dress, wash, and perform light household tasks with greater ease.
I employed Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory (SCDNT) as the foundation for my research, which investigates the impact of modified sternal precautions on the self-care of patients following cardiac surgery. It aids in evaluating the impact of these limitations on patient autonomy, recovery duration, and quality of life. This paradigm aligns with my study objective of enhancing patient outcomes and fostering a comprehensive, patient-centric approach to post-surgical care by enhancing patients’ self-care capacities.
Gach, R., Triano, S., Ogola, G. O., da Graca, B., Shannon, J., El-Ansary, D., Bilbrey, T., Cortelli, M., & Adams, J. (2021). “Keep Your Move in the Tube” safely increases discharge home following cardiac surgery. PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitation, 13(12), 1321–1330. https://doi.org/10.1002/pmrj.12562
Holloway, C., Pathare, N., Huta, J., Grady, D., Landry, A., Christie, C., Pierce, P., & Bopp, C. (2020). The Impact of a Less Restrictive Poststernotomy Activity Protocol Compared With Standard Sternal Precautions in Patients Following Cardiac Surgery. Physical therapy, 100(7), 1074–1083. https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/pzaa067
Yip J. Y. C. (2021). Theory-Based Advanced Nursing Practice: A Practice Update on the Application of Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory. SAGE open nursing, 7, 23779608211011993. https://doi.org/10.1177/23779608211011993