The Roy adaptation model has been adopted as the frame of reference for the nursing curriculum at the Universidad de La Sabana School of Nursing in Colombia. The purpose of this paper is to discuss, through an example, the application process of the Roy model, the reflection that has been developed to study in great depth its central concepts and scientific and philosophic principles, and to explain the concept of nursing care for adaptation as a fundamental aspect for its application. Likewise, the process generated from the model's application in teaching and practice are presented.