Ida Jean Orlando’s deliberative nursing process theory

Introduction: The second half of the twentieth century was characterized by a desire within the nursing discipline to distinguish itself from other health disciplines. In this context, Ida Jean Orlando introduced the theory of the deliberative nursing process, highlighting the specific role of nursing care.

Context: This article is the result of an initiative to make nursing theories more accessible in French. Objectives: It presents the deliberative nursing process theory and illustrates its relevance to practice. Method: After consulting theoretical nursing textbooks, we decided to return to the source by analyzing Orlando’s published works to better understand her fundamental ideas. Results: The deliberative nursing process is based on three main concepts: the behaviors of the person receiving care, the nurse’s reaction, and the subsequent nursing action. Orlando’s proposals invite nurses to adopt a deliberate approach when identifying and responding to the needs of those being cared for. Discussion: Even today, Orlando’s theory plays a key role in reaffirming nurses’ professional identity, while guiding their practice towards a person-centered approach.