Central Philippine University

COLLEGE OF NURSING
The First Nursing School

Virginia Henderson
“The 14 Basic Human Needs”

Objectives:
• To be able to know Virginia Henderson

• To be able to know and understand Virginia Henderson’s “The 14 Basic Human Needs”

• To be able to understand Virginia Henderson’s Metaparadigm Theory model or the concepts between
Nursing, Person, Health and Environment

• To determine the significance and the application of Virginia Henderson’s Theory in nursing
community

I.About the Theorist

• Virginia Henderson was born on November 30, 1897 in Kansas City, Missouri
• In 1921, she received her Diploma in Nursing from the Army School of Nursing at Walter Reed
Hospital, Washington D.C.
• From 1924 to 1929, she worked as an instructor and educational director in Norfolk Protestant
Hospital, Norfolk, Virginia.
• In1930, she was a nurse supervisor and clinical instructor at the outpatient department of Strong
Memorial Hospital, Rochester, New York.
• From 1934 to 1948, 14 years of her career, she worked as an instructor and associate professor at
Teachers College, Columbia University in New York.
• Since 1953, Henderson was a research associate at Yale University School of Nursing and as a
research associate emeritus (1971 -1996).
• Throughout her career, she traveled the world at the invitation of professional societies,
universities, and governments to share and inspire not just nurses, but also other health-care
professionals.

Publications
• Principles and Practice of Nursing
• Basic Principles of Nursing Care
• Nursing Studies Index

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 Central Philippine University
COLLEGE OF NURSING
The First Nursing School

OVERVIEW OF VIRGINIA HENDERSON'S "The 14 Basic Human Needs"

• The 14 Basic Human Needs emphasizes on the importance of increasing the patient’s
independence and focus on the basic human needs so that progress after hospitalization would not
be delayed
• Henderson's goal was not to develop a theory of nursing, but rather to define the unique focus of
nursing practice.
• emphasizes the importance of increasing the patient's independence so that progress after
hospitalization would not be delayed.

II.Content of Theory

The 14 components of the basic human needs show a holistic approach to nursing that covers the
physiological, psychological, spiritual and social needs.

1. Breathe normally
2. Eat and drink adequately
3. Eliminate body wastes
4. Move and maintain desirable postures
5. Sleep and rest
6. Select suitable clothes – dress and undress
7. Maintain body temperature within normal range by adjusting clothing and modifying
environment
8. Keep the body clean and well groomed and protect the integument
9. Avoid dangers in the environment and avoid injuring others
10. Communicate with others in expressing emotions, needs, fears, or opinions.
Spiritual and Moral
11. Worship according to one’s faith
Sociologically Oriented to Occupation and Recreation
12. Work in such a way that there is sense of accomplishment
13. Play or participate in various forms of recreation
14. Learn, discover, or satisfy the curiosity that leads to normal development and health and use the
available health facilities.

Three major assumptions in Henderson’s Model of Nursing.

• The Nurse-Patient Relationship
-Nurses care for a patient until a patient can care for him or herself.
- "The nurse as a substitute for the patient"
- “The nurse as a helper to the patient"
- "The nurse as a partner with the patient"

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 Central Philippine University
COLLEGE OF NURSING
The First Nursing School

• The Nurse-Physician Relationship

-Nurses function independently from physicians.
-Nurses do not follow doctor's orders; rather they follow in a philosophy which allows physicians
give orders to patients or other healthcare team members.

• The Nurse as a Member of the Healthcare Team

- The nurse, as a member of the healthcare team, works and contributes in carrying out the total
program of care.

III. Metaparadigm of the Theory

Person
- Individuals have basic needs that are component of health and require assistance to achieve health
and independence or a peaceful death.

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 Central Philippine University
COLLEGE OF NURSING
The First Nursing School

Health
- "A quality of life and is very basic for a person to function fully."
- gave emphasis in prioritizing health promotion as more important than care of the sick

Environment
- Henderson stated that maintaining a supportive environment conducive for health is one of the
elements of her 14 activities for client assistance.
- Supports the tasks of the private and the public health sector or agencies in keeping the people
healthy. She believes that society wants and expects the nurse’s service of acting for individuals who are
unable to function independently.

Nursing
-"Signature" of profession
- Nurses function independently from the physician, but they must promote the treatment plan
prescribed by the physician.
- The special role of nurse is to help both sick and well individual.
- The care given by the nurse must empower the patient to gain independence as rapidly as possible.
- The nurse must be knowledgeable in both biological and social sciences and must have the ability to
assess basic human needs.

IV.Acceptance in the Nursing Community

Practice
- Henderson's approach focuses on decision-making and is deliberate in such a way that every step of
the nursing process, it plays an important role.

• Assessment Phase - the nurse would assess the 14 fundamental needs of the patients and checks
which one is lacking or fully met.

• Planning Phase - involves giving the plan of care to meet the needs and personality of the patient.

• Implementation Phase - the nurse uses the 14 basic needs in answering the factors that are
contributing to the illness state of the patient.

• Evaluation Phase - the nurse and the patient reviews the relationship and decides whether the goals
are met or not.

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 Central Philippine University
COLLEGE OF NURSING
The First Nursing School

Education
• Henderson developed three phases of curriculum development that students should progress in
their learning:

• First Phase – emphasis is made on helping the patient perform activities of daily living.

• Second Phase – importance is placed on assisting patients achieve their needs in times of marked body
disturbances or illness.

• Third Phase – centered on the patient and his family together with the dynamics affecting the
relationship inside the unit.

Research
• Henderson supported the use of research in improving the practice of nursing.

V. Analysis

Simplicity
• Henderson’s concept of nursing is complex rather than simplistic.

• The sixth edition of Henderson’s book “The Principles and Practice of Nursing” has given an
extremely comprehensive and well-illustrated explanation that makes the basic needs clear and
more understandable.

Generality
• The definitions provided by Henderson are broad in scope. They work in such a way that they
cover all areas of nursing practice and could be applied in every setting.

Derivable Consequences
• The perspective related to Henderson’s theory opened doors for development by the upcoming
nursing theorists.

• She advocated curriculum development and at the same time viewed research as an important
tool in improving the clinical practice of nursing.

• Henderson’s works are still given credit and are often mentioned in nursing literature and
researches in all areas of profession.

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 Central Philippine University
COLLEGE OF NURSING
The First Nursing School

VI.Application of Henderson’s Theory

Situation:
Makoy, 25 years old, has been taken to the emergency room of the hospital after sustaining
multiple injuries after his motorcycle crashed in the course of his race. Multiple X- rays were taken
nd rd
which revealed fractures on left femur(thigh bone), 2 and 3 ribs, and fractured right wrist . Surgery
was immediately done to correct some of the dislocated bones and to stitch some open wounds. He was
placed on several casts , and an external fixator, to support fractured bone , was attached on his left leg,

which limited his movement for weeks to months. His family frequented their visits and tried to raise his
confidence and assured him that all would be fine.
However, Makoy appeared to manifest self- pity and lowered self esteem when he said “ wala
na akong career! Baldado na ako wala nang kwenta buhay ko!” and after having failed to bathe or to
feed himself, Every morning , when his family tries to bathe him , he will raise his voice and say he’s not
a paralytic. At times he also directs his anger to the nurses by shouting at them during the routine daily
care.

Assessment
- In using the 14 fundamental needs of Henderson, she would be able to determine that the
ability of the patient to independently perform his activities of daily living was affected.

Planning
- As the nurse uses the concepts introduced by Henderson, she would prioritize her interventions
towards the attainment of independence through the performance of basic human needs and
restoration of his self esteem.

Implementation
- On top of the nurse performing as a substitute for the patient, action must also be directed in
having him participate gradually over his care.

Evaluation
- In this phase, the entire process is evaluated and new goals are to be formulated.
-

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 Central Philippine University
COLLEGE OF NURSING
The First Nursing School

VII. References

Octaviano, E. and Balita, C. (2008). Theoretical Foundations of Nursing: The Philippine

Perspective. Manila: Ultimate Learning Series

Tomey, A.M & Alligood, M.A. (2002). Nursing Theories and their work (5th ed.). Missouri: Elsevier
(Singapore) Pte Ltd