TOPIC 3 – Virginia Henderson (Nursing Needs Theory)

- Virginia Henderson – 1897 – 1996

- Focuses of nursing research “from studying nurses to studying the differences that
nurses can make in people’s lives”
- The first truly international nurse
- 1985
- Christianne Reimann Prize
- most prestigious award in nursing
- Also known as “Modern-Day Mother of Nursing”
- “The 20th century Florence Nightingale”
- “The nightingale of Modern Nursing”

Recognition/Honors
- Christianne Reimann Prize in June 1985, aged 87
- Honorary fellow of the UK’s Royal College of Nursing
- Hall of fame award – (10k gold pendant on a gold chain box, wearable as either a
necklace recipient’s name and credentials on the back.)
- Recipient of the Virginia Historical Nurse Leader
- Award Member of the American Nurses Association Hall of Fame

Henderson’s Goal
- Increasing the patient’s independence

Evolution of her theory

- First, participated in the revision of a nursing text book. Henderson realized the need to
be clear about the functions of the nurse.
- Second, concerned that many states had no provision for nursing licensure to ensure
safe and competent care for the consumers.

(Henderson, 1960)
- “ I believe that the function that the nurse performs is primarily an independent one”

Comparison to nightingale
- Like nightingale, Henderson described nursing in relation to the client and the clients’
environments.
- Unlike nightingale, her theory is concerned with both healthy and ill individuals.
- “ , she believed that nurses interact with clients even when recovery may not be
feasible
- She promotes the teaching and advocacy roles of the nurse
Basic Human Need
- Unique focus of nursing practice

Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs theory

- Abraham Harold Maslow (April 1, 1908 - June 8, 1970) was a psychologist who studied
positive human qualities and the lives of exemplary people. 1954, Maslow created the
hierarchy of human needs.
- Expressed his theories in his book called Motivation and Personality

Pyramid
- Self-Actualization – A person’s motivation to reach his or her full potential.
 Morality, creativity, problem solving, lack of prejudice, and
acceptance of facts.
- Esteem – Self-esteem, confidence, achievement, respect to others, and by others.
- Love/Belonging – friendship, family, sexual intimacy
- Safety – Security of body, of employment, of resources, of morality, of the family, of
health, and property.
- Physiological - breathing, food, water, sex, sleep, homeostasis, excretion.

She described the nurse’s role as;

1. Substitutive (doing for the person)
2. Supplementary (helping the person)
3. Complementary (working with person) - with the goal of helping the person become as
independent as possible.

Categorized nursing activities (based on 14 human needs);

Legend:
Physiologic Functions
Psychological Aspect of Communication and Learning
Spiritual and MORAL ASPECT
Sociologically Oriented to Occupation and recreation

1. Breathing normally
2. Eating and drinking adequately
3. Eliminating body wastes
4. Moving and maintaining a desirable position
5. Sleeping and resting
6. Selecting suitable clothes
7. Maintaining body temperature by adjusting clothing and modifying the environment
8. Keeping the body clean and well-groomed
9. Avoiding dangers in the environment and avoiding injuring others
10. Communicating with others in expressing emotions, needs, fears, or opinions
11. Worshipping according to one’s faith
12. Working in such a way that one feels a sense of accomplishment
 13. Playing or participating in various forms of recreation
14. Learning, discovering, or satisfying the curiosity that leads to normal development a n
d health, and using available health facilities.

CONCEPTUAL MODEL

PERSON - Lack’s will, strength and knowledge to meet the 14 basic need (Source of difficulty) -
Nurses ability to define and identify the needs of the = NURSING CARE - Nursing Role:
Substitutive; supplementary; complementary - Person Focused - Independence in satisfaction of
the human being’s 14 fundamental or basic need peaceful death = GOAL MET

Human or Individual
- Patient: as someone who needs nursing care
- With biological, psychological, sociological, and spiritual components
- Not limited to illness care.

Society or Environment - supportive environment (one of the elements of the 14 needs)

Health
- Having good health is a challenge
- Affected by age, cultural background, physical and intellectual capacities, and emotional
balance
- Is the individual’s ability to meet independently

Nursing
- Someone who has unique function to assist individual
- Helping patients to perform unaided
- Helping patients to gain independence as rapidly as possible.” (Henderson, 1991)

Major Assumption 1
- Nurses care for patients until patient can care for themselves once again

Major Assumption 2
- Nurses are willing to serve and that “nurses will devote themselves to the patient day
and night”

Final Assumption
- Should be educated at the university level in both arts and sciences

NURSES; Advocating, Leading, and Caring

Strengths
- Relatively simple yet generalizable
- Applicable to the health if individuals of all ages

“when you are a nurse, you know that every day you will touch a life or a life will touch you” -
anonymous

- Ideas of nursing practice are well accepted

- Utilized by practitioners to guide and improve their practice

Weakness
- Major shortcoming: lack of a conceptual linkage between psychological and other
human characteristics.

Applications (Practice)
- Nurses can help the patient move to an independent state by