Orem Self-Care Theory Dorothea Orem, founder of the self-care deficit theory of nursing, dedicated her life to helping the less fortunate receive care quality nursing. Orem developed a theory focused on improving health care through self-care (Libster, 2008). In doing so, she defined the role of nursing in modern healthcare, which directly impacted the nurse's ability to better care for patients. Born in 1914, Dorothea Orem grew up in Baltimore, Maryland. Raised by a construction worker and housewife, Orem was greatly influenced by her two aunts who were nurses for the Daughters of Charity. The Daughters of Charity originated in France with St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac. “The Sister Nurses have filled a community need by helping some of the most marginalized in society, such as the insane, the drunk and those suffering from dreaded diseases, such as cholera. Indeed, it was while caring for cholera victims during the 1832 pandemic that they established their early American reputation as nursing experts” (Libster, 2008, p. 10). Orem attended Seton High School which continued in this tradition, as did Providence Hospital in Washington, D.C., where she earned her nursing degree in 1934. These significant roots were laid as the foundation for Orem's theory of self-care. Orem began his career as a nurse and supervisor in the operating room and emergency room. He returned to the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. and graduated with his BSN in 1939, when he took a faculty position. In 1946 she graduated with her MSN from Catholic University and became director of nursing services and education in Detroit. Orem was greatly influenced by Aristotle's thought-provoking philosophical questions and... middle of paper... questionnaire. By doing so, the results should improve as they did in the asthma study. In today's modern world of medicine, which requires shorter hospital stays and reduced readmission rates, there is more pressure than ever on nurses to quickly but effectively transition the patient from the fully compensatory system to the supportive education system. Orem's modern approach to nursing practice allows the patient to take responsibility for self-care as soon as they are able to manage it. In the absence of this ability, it is the nurse's job to fill and create an environment to improve the patient's quality of life by regaining that ability to self-care. “Supporting self-care can improve health outcomes, increase patient satisfaction, and help implement the greatest collaborative resource available: patients, their families, and communities” (Pearson, 2008, p.. 2).