Roy Adaptation Model

Bibliography

            Sr. Callista Roy is an exceedingly valued nurse theorist, writer, lecturer, researcher and teacher who presently is a Professor and Nurse Theorist at the Boston College School of Nursing in Chestnut Hill, MA (Meyers, n.d.). She occupies herself with: a) teaching epistemology of nursing, b) teaching masteral and doctoral dissertation research, c) research in the cognitive recovery of head-injured patients, and nurse coaching (Meyers, n.d.).

Factors Leading to Her Theory

            The Roy Adaptation Model was born during the time when Sr. Callista Roy enrolled herself in the Master’s program in Pediatric Nursing in 1964 at the University of California Los Angeles (Meyers, n.d.). Here, Sr. Callista Roy was encouraged by Dorothy E. Jackson, her adviser and seminar faculty, to develop her own concept of adaptation as a framework for nursing, after Sr. Roy presented her proposal that nursing’s objective was to uphold patient adaptation (Meyers, n.d.). The Roy Adaptation Model was initially inspired by the theories created by Ludwig Von Bertalanffy and Helson (Meyers, n.d.). Dohrenwend, Lazarus, Mechanic, and Selye, contributed greatly as well (Meyers, n.d.).

Adaptation Model Defined  

            Roy’s model of nursing perceived an individual as a set of interrelated systems,

biological, psychological, and social (McOuiston et. al., 1995).  The individual tries to maintain an equilibrium and stability between each of these systems and his external environment, though a complete level of balance does not exist (McOuiston et. al., 1995).  Additionally, Sr. Callista Roy stated that everybody tries hard to live within a band where we can cope sufficiently and effectively (McOuiston et. al., 1995).

  Furthermore, she proclaims that the aforementioned band his band will be unique to the individual (McOuiston et. al., 1995).  Moreover, she defined the adaptation level as the range of adaptability within which an individual can cope productively with new occurrences or incidences (McOuiston et. al., 1995).  Also, Sr. Callista stressed the modes of adaptation which she technically referred to as the: a) physiological system, b) self-concept system, c) role mastery system and d) interdependency system (McOuiston et. al., 1995).

            The major concepts of the Roy Adaptation Model include the following several assumptions. Scientifically, it postulated that:

1. a) Understanding of one’s own personality and background is ingrained in thinking and feeling (Meyers, n.d.).
2. b) Thinking and feeling intercedes an individuals’ action (Meyers, n.d.).
3. c) System relationships include recognition, safety, and encouragement of interdependence (Meyers, n.d.).
4. d) Individuals and the world have similar precedents and integral relationships (Meyers, n.d.).
5. e) Awareness and meaning are innate in an individual, as well as, environment integration (Meyers, n.d.).
6. f) Individuals are responsible for the incorporation of imaginative procedures (Meyers, n.d.).
7. g) Changes in individuals and in the environment are designed in human consciousness (Meyers, n.d.).
8. h) Systems of matter and energy advance to superior levels of complex self-organization (Meyers, n.d.).
9. i) Combination of individuals and the external consequences result in adaptation (Meyers, n.d.).

Philosophically, it hypothesized that:

1. a) Individuals have shared and reciprocated relationship with the world, as well as, the Lord (Meyers, n.d.).
2. b) “Human meaning is rooted in an omega point of convergence of the world” (Meyers, n.d.).
3. c) The Lord is warmly evidenced in the multiplicity and diversity of creation and is the universal fate of creation (Meyers, n.d.).
4. d) Individuals utilize creative aptitudes of consciousness/awareness, enlightenment, as well as, faith (Meyers, n.d.).
5. e) Individuals are liable for the changes occurring in the world (Meyers, n.d.).

The theory’s assumptions believed to be about family and nursing, on the other hand, include:

1. a) Understanding of one’s own personality and background is ingrained in thinking and feeling (Meyers, n.d.).
2. b) Thinking and feeling intercedes an individuals’ action (Meyers, n.d.).
3. c) System relationships include recognition, safety, and encouragement of interdependence (Meyers, n.d.).
4. d) Awareness and meaning are innate in an individual, as well as, environment integration (Meyers, n.d.).
5. e) Individuals are responsible for the incorporation of imaginative procedures (Meyers, n.d.).
6. f) Changes in individuals and in the environment are designed in human consciousness (Meyers, n.d.).
7. g) Combination of individuals and the external consequences result in adaptation (Meyers, n.d.).
8. h) Individuals have shared and reciprocated relationship with the world, as well as, the Lord (Meyers, n.d.).
9. i) The Lord is warmly evidenced in the multiplicity and diversity of creation and is the universal fate of creation (Meyers, n.d.).
10. j) Individuals utilize creative aptitudes of consciousness/awareness, enlightenment, as well as, faith (Meyers, n.d.).
11. k) Individuals are liable for the changes occurring in the world (Meyers, n.d.).

Explaining further, the above-mentioned assumptions may be summarized into: a) the person – which involves the physiologic, self-concept, role function, and interdependence, b) goal of nursing, c) environment – which includes the stimuli or motivations that affect the improvement and conduct of the individual, d) health, and e) nursing activities (Meyers, n.d.). All these according to Sr. Roy ought to be interconnected to achieve the state of adaptation (Meyer, n.d.).

Conclusion

            Nursing models, like Roy’s Adaptation Model is the successful outcome of concepts that came about, as well as, statements that clearly defined those concepts (McOuiston et. al., 1995).  This specific nursing model, if properly understood, largely plays a role in the nurses’ assessments, care plans, as well as, implementation of the right and precise patient care (McOuiston et. al., 1995).

These nursing models will serve as a “standard/rule”, thus, will consequently lead to faultlessness and consistency on the part of the nurses (McOuiston et. al., 1995). On the other hand, in terms of data collection, the Roy Adaptation Model is extremely helpful because it serves as a guide in the assessment of adaptation to be able to manage stimuli and responses so that adaptation will be upheld (McOuiston et. al., 1995).

Wrapping up, Sister Callista Roy created the “Adaptation Model” because for her, it is essential that the following would be interconnected: 1) “patiency”; 2) the goal of nursing; 3) health-being; 4) environment; 5) direction of nursing activities (McOuiston et. al., 1995).  She also strongly believes that the nurse should be able to facilitate adaptation through process or control mechanisms to yield adaptive responses (McOuiston et. al., 1995).

References

McOuiston, C.M. & Webb, A.A. (1995). Foundations of Nursing Theory: Contributions of

12 Key Theorists. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.

Meyers, K. (n.d.). The Personal Biography & Professional Biosketch of Sr. Callista Roy.

Retrieved October 2, 2007 from http://www2.bc.edu.

Meyers, K. (n.d.). Roy Adaptation Model. Retrieved October 2, 2007 from

http://www2.bc.edu.