Sister Callista Roy Roy Adaptation Model

Introduction Sister Callista Roy has made numerous contributions to the nursing and medical community over the course of many years. Her most famous contribution is the Roy Adaptation Model. The first time it was actually published was in 1970. “The Roy Adaptation model is currently one of the most widely used frameworks in nursing practice, being applied by hundreds of thousands of nurses in countries all over the world” (Masters, 2011)

Background She attended Mount Saint Mary’s College and graduated with a baccalaureate degree in nursing in 1963. She then went on to earn a master’s degree in nursing and a master’s degree in sociology. She developed the basic concepts of her Adaptation Model while she was a student at the University of California-Los Angeles. She was challenged by Dorothy Johnson in a seminar to develop a conceptual model for nursing. She utilized concepts from Harry Helson’s adaptation theory, Rapoport’s definition of systems, as well as concepts from Lazarus and Selye to devise her model (Masters, 2011).

Roy Adaptation model The model “outlines the purpose of nursing as promoting a person’s adaptation, the process and outcome by which thinking and feeling persons use conscious awareness and choice to create human and environmental integration” (Hood, 2006). The model consists of four metaparadigm concepts. These include person, environment, nursing and health. There are four modes of functioning. These include physiologic-physical mode, self-concept, role function and interdependence Physical mode involves the activities of all cells, tissues, organs and systems that make up the body. The underlying need for the self-concept mode is the need to know who one is so that they can exist with a sense of unity. The role function mode focuses on a person’s role in society and in a group setting. Interdependence mode focuses on interactions related to giving and receiving love, respect and value (Masters, 2011).

Roy Adaptation model There are also assumptions contained in the Adaptation model. They are classified into three categories. These categories are philosophic assumptions, scientific assumptions and cultural assumptions. Philosophic assumptions basically mean that persons have a mutual relationship with the world and a God-type figure. Scientific assumptions include systems of matter and energy progress to higher levels of complex self-organization. Cultural assumptions involve experiences within a specific culture that will influence how each element of the Roy Adaptation model is expressed (Masters, 2011).

There are relational propositions of the Roy Adaptation Model There are relational propositions of the Roy Adaptation Model. It states that stimuli from the environment serve as inputs for the physiological system. The model also dictates that human systems must adapt in the way they function to accommodate for new environmental requirements.

The nursing process Roy’s Adaptation Model specifically addresses a six-step nursing process. These six steps include: assessment (first and second), diagnosis, planning, implementation and evaluation. First assessment includes assessing behaviors. Second assessment includes evaluation of stimuli. Diagnosis is basically deciding what it all means. Planning involves creating an appropriate plan of action for the person. Implementation is how you are going to get it to work. Evaluation is deciding if it worked and what needs to be changed

critics One of the critiques of the Adaptation Model has been that it is very complex and contains many concepts, subconcepts and relational statements. It can be somewhat difficult to fully understand all of the concepts contained in Roy’s Adaptation Model. Once the Model is learned, it seems completely logical and easy to understand. There is a lot of content to the full Adaptation Model, but once it is mastered and fully understood, it can be very useful to the nurse in all facets of patient interaction and care

future The Adaptation Model will continue to be used in the years to come and clearly and consistently defines many important concepts and ideas. Callista Roy is considered one of the great nursing theorists and her concepts will be used for a very, very long time.

references Masters, K. (2011). Nursing theories: A framework for professional practice. (pp. 127-142). Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC. Retrieved from http://samples.jbpub.com/9781449626013/72376_CH10_Masters.pdf. Hood, L.J., & Leddy, S.K. (2006). Conceptual bases of professional nursing (6th ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Reynolds, C. (2013, March 18). Nursing grand theory and theorists: Roy and orem. Retrieved from http://nursingtheoryandtheoristsroyorem.weebly.com/3/post/2013/03/roy-adaptation-model-theory-description.html.