She can help patients adapt.
Roy adaptation theory is an approach to nursing developed by Sister Callista Roy while studying pediatric nursing in Los Angeles in the 1960s, according to Boston University. Inspired by the mental resilience of children undergoing hospital treatment, Roy suggested the purpose of nursing was to help patients adapt mentally and emotionally to their situation. In the years since then, Roy has updated and revised her theory based on nurses' feedback.
Adaptation
Roy's theory defines adaptation as the process by which an individual or group makes conscious choices to cope with his or her situation. Adaptive responses increase people's ability to cope, and to achieve goals including survival, growth, mastery of their lives and "personal and environmental transformation." Successful adaptation integrates a bad situation into an individual's life, or at least helps compensate for the problem.
Four Modes
Roy's theory states that a patient's adaptation involves four different modes:
• The physical mode, which covers basic needs, such as eating, sleeping and protecting the body.
• Self-concept group identity mode, which refers to an individual's beliefs and feelings about him or herself.
• Role function mode, which involves the perception of where the individual fits in the social network, how he or she relates to other people and should behave toward them.
• Interdependence mode, which refers to the personal relationships he or she has with friends, family and life partners.
How Nurses Help
In Roy's theory, nursing helps patients expand their ability to adapt, and a nurse's goal should be to promote adaptation in all four modes of life. To do this, a nurse assesses a patient's behavior and other factors influencing the patient's power to adapt, and intervenes to help adapt better.
The Nursing Process
A nurse's first step is to assess the patient's adaptive behavior. The nurse then identifies the stimuli influencing the behavior, both the immediate ones--a sick parent, an upcoming operation--and the more general stimuli in the patient's life. The nurse then assesses the patient's adaptation problems; sets goals for improving it; takes steps toward the goals; and finally evaluates the success of the treatment.
A Case Study
Currentnursing.com gives an example of the Roy method at work. A Hindu patient with an amputated foot was troubled by the cost of treatment, the fear his condition would grow worse and the fact he had the breadwinner role in his family and had nobody to replace him in that role. After analyzing the situation, the nurses drew up a plan:
• Help the patient adapt physically by teaching him the use of crutches and the procedures to keep his leg in good shape.
• Reduce his stress by providing peace and quiet, and making it clear the regular inspection of his amputation site was routine, and didn't mean there was a problem.
• Encourage the patient and his family to ask questions so the nurses could resolve anything they were worried about.
• The nurses concluded there was nothing they could do to help the patient adapt to his financial problems.
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