Sister Callista Roy, PhD, RN, FAAN

Professor and Nurse Theorist

Professor and Nurse Theorist

Born in LA on October 14,1939, and worked as a pantry girl at a hospital by age 14, then a maid, and later became a Nurse’s Aide.

BSN – 1963 - Mount Saint Mary’s MSN, 1966; MA in sociology, 1973; Ph.D. in Sociology, 1977 -

University of California, LA

Dr. Roy is with the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet. (this is what led her to nursing).

Professional Contributions

Research: 163 studies: 1970-94. Books: 1. The Roy Adaptation Model: The Definition

Statement; 2. The Roy Adaptation: Model-Based Research: 25 years of contribution to Nursing Science.

Journal Publications- Research & papers on nursing knowledge have appeared in Image: Journal of Nursing Scholarship.

Her model has been used to develop nursing school curriculum and in 1987 over 100,000 nurses graduated from schools emphasizing the Roy Adaptation Model.

Awards

1989 Fulbright Senior Scholar Award from Australian-American Educational Foundation (to fund the translation of her books into French, Italian, Spanish, Finnish, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese).

1991 National League for Nursing honored her with the Martha Rogers Award for advancing nursing science.

1991 The Sister Callista Roy Lectureship was established.

Callista Roy’s Definition of Nursing

A scientific discipline that is practice-oriented. A theoretical system of knowledge which

prescribes a process of analysis and action r/t the care of the ill or potentially ill.

An interpersonal process that is initiated by the individual’s maladaptation to changes in the environment.

Nursing actions are directed to reduce or removing stimuli and to enhancing the adaptive

level of the individual.

Nursing: The 4 Modes

Physiological mode- 5 basic physiological needs (Oxygenation, nutrition, elimination, activity and rest, and protection) and 4 regulator processes. Self concept-The composition of beliefs and feelings that a person holds about himself. Interdependence- maintaining integrity. Involves a willingness and

ability to love, respect, and value others and to accept love. Output- outcome of the system. The person’s behaviors

characterized as adaptive responses or ineffective responses.

Goals of Nursing

The promotion of adaptation in each of 4 modes: physiological needs, self concept, role function, interdependence thereby contributing to the person’s health, quality of life or death with dignity.

Nursing aims to increase the adaptive responses and to decrease ineffective responses.

Catchment/Release Mechanism

Overall, her theory proposes that a primary goal of nursing be the "promotion of Patient adaptation.“

Thus, when a person is not adapting positively, he is of concern to nursing.

Once a person manifests effective behavior, he no longer needs nursing attention

Nursing: 3 Major Propositions

Nursing action can increase a person’s adaptive responses.

Nursing actions can decrease a person’s ineffective responses.

People interact with changing environments in an attempt to achieve adaptation and health.