Sister Callista Roy established the Roy Adaptation Model to enable nurses to provide a framework for adapting to illness, including a transformative environment to improve quality of life (Current Nursing, 2012). Nurses support the use of several steps with this model, including behavioral assessment, identification of stimuli, diagnosis, goal setting, intervention, and evaluation, all of which contribute to a change in behavior in response to a specific condition (Current Nursing, 2012).

The theory embodies a level of strength that enables nurses and their patients to effectively adapt to change as environmental conditions require and as other frameworks are modified (Current Nursing, 2012). Roy’s Adaptation Model supports the ability to make modifications to behaviors to improve health as changes occur throughout the life span across different age groups (Current Nursing, 2012).

Roy’s Adaptation Model focuses on the human experience and how it responds to change within the surrounding environment, and this captures the elements that are required to become one with the surrounding environment in a harmonious manner (Rogers & Keller, 2009). Adaptation is comprised of two primary components, regulator and cognator subsystems, with the former reflecting an automatic response to stimuli and the latter signifying a cognitive and/or emotional response to the environment (Rogers & Keller, 2009). As human beings age, there is a less effective response mechanism in place, and this reflects a reduced level of cognition and a slower automatic response time (Rogers & Keller, 2009). Therefore, Roy’s Adaptation Model is successful in supporting the changes that occur with aging and throughout the life span that impact the human condition in different ways and that demonstrate how humans are able to adjust rather quickly in some situations and more slowly in others in response to stimuli and environmental conditions (Rogers & Keller, 2009).

This model requires a high degree of flexibility so that it is applicable to modern concerns that have global and social impact (Roy, 2011). In this context, individuals must be prepared to adapt to change, particularly as it evolves on a continuous basis with the emergence of new social issues and other factors that impact how individuals respond to the environment (Roy, 2011). The model is applicable to a wide variety of situations on a global scale, and its growth has been instrumental in supporting the research of many nations throughout the world (Whetsell et.al, 2013). From this perspective, Roy’s model is likely to be influential in the development of new research projects across different subject areas. For example, the obesity epidemic may be well served by this model through lifestyle interventions that require individuals to adapt different behaviors regarding food in order to promote healthy eating. This process also supports the ability to increase physical activity towards achieving greater weight loss and overall wellbeing. Under these conditions, Roy’s model reflects the importance of adapting to negative messages within the surrounding environment with regards to processed and unhealthy foods that often promote weight gain. The ability to adapt to a healthier approach to eating and exercise are critical in addressing obesity as a serious health problem and also a social condition that requires ongoing attention.

The Roy Adaptation Model represents a viable method of approaching nursing practice and patient care to embrace and accept change as it emerges throughout the life span. This process requires both regulatory and cognitive adaptation to facilitate change as required to meet the needs of individuals. This model supports these changes and supports the ability to effectively adapt to environmental change on a continuous basis as new changes emerge in the health, environmental, and social contexts.