Which nursing theorist is associated with self-care concepts?

The theorist associated with self-care concepts is Dorothea Orem. Her Self-Care Theory emphasizes the individual's ability to perform self-care activities and highlights the importance of a person's own capacity to maintain health and life quality. Orem identified that individuals can take charge of their health by engaging in self-care practices, which can include monitoring their health, managing chronic conditions, and making informed decisions about their care.

Orem's work is particularly significant in nursing because it provides a framework for understanding how nurses can support patients in becoming more self-sufficient and in managing their health outcomes. Her theory outlines three interrelated components: self-care, self-care deficit, and nursing systems, which guide nurses in assessing patients' capabilities and planning appropriate interventions to promote self-care.

This focus on the active role of the patient in their own health, as presented by Orem, is foundational in nursing practice, distinguishing it from other theorists who may emphasize different aspects of care or patient-nurse relationships.