LESSON 12 VIRGINIA HENDERSON'S
NURSING NEED THEORY
''The unique function of the nurse is to assist the
individual, sick or well, in the performance of those
activities contributing to health or its recovery (or to
THEORY DESCRIPTION:
peaceful death) that he would perform unaided if he She emphasized the importane of
had the necessary strength, will or knowledge. And to
increasing the patient's independence so
do this in such a way to help him gain independence
that progress after hospitalization
as rapidly as possible"
would not be delayed (Henderson, 1966).
"...assisting individuals to gain indepedence in
Born in Kansas City, Died on relation to the performance of activities
SHE IS KNOWN TO BE: Missouri in 897 March 19,1999 contributing to health r its recovery" (Henderson,
"The Nightingale of 1966)
Modern Nursing" Diploma in Nursing from the Army She categorized nursing activities into
"Modern-Day Mother of School of Nursing at Walter Reed 14 components, based on human
Modern Nursing" Hospital,Washington, D.C. in 1921 needs.
"The 20th Century She described the nurse's role as substitutive
Worked at the Henry Street Visiting
Florence Nightingale" (doing for the person), suppleentary (helping
Nurse Service for 2 years after graduation
"The First Lady of Nursing" In 1983, started teaching nursing at the
the person), complementary (working with the
person), with the goal of helping the person
Norfolk Protestant Hospital in Virginia become as independent as possible
14 Components of the
Psychological Aspects of
Nursing Needs Theory: Communicating and Learning
Physiological Components
1. Breathe normally. 10. Communicate with others in expressing
2. Eat and drink adequately. emotions, needs, fears, or opinions.
3. Eliminate body wastes.
4. Move and maintain desrable postures.
11. Learn, discover, or satisfy the curiosity
5. Sleep and rest
6. Select suitable clothes - dress and undress. that leads to normal development and health
7. Maintain body temperature within normal range by and use the available health facilities
adjusting clothing and modifying enviroment.
8. Keep the body clean and well-groomed and protect the integument.
Spiritual and Moral
9. Avoid dangers in the enviroment and avoid
12. Worship according
injuring others. Sociologically Oriented to one's faith
Occupation and Recreation
THEORY ASSUMPTIONS: 13. Work in such a way that there
~Nurses care for patients until patients can care for
themselves once again. Patients desire to return to health, but is sense of accomplishment
this assumptions is not explicitly stated.
14. Play or participate in varous
~Nurses are willing to serve and that "nurses will
forms of recreation.
debote themselves to the patient day and night.
~A final assumption is that nurses should be educated at
the university level in both ars and sciences.
theory in view of metaparadigms
NURSING HEALTH
Temporarily assisting an individual who lacks the necessary Definition based on an individual's ability to function
strength, will and knowledge to satisfy 1 or more of 14 basic needs. independently as outlined in the 14 components
Assists and supports the individua in life
activities and the attainment of independence. Nurses need to stress promotion of health and
Nurses serves to make the patient "complete, "whole", or "independent". prevention and cure of disease.
The nurse is expected to carry out the physician's therapeutic plan Good health is a challenge - affected by age, cultural
individualized care is the result of the nurse's creativity in planning for care background, physical, and intellectual capacities,
Nurses should have knowledge to practice individualized and
and emotional balance is the individual's ability to
human care and should be scientifi proble solver.
In the Nature of Nursing Nurse role is, "to get the patient's skin and supplement his meeet these needs independently
strenth, will or knowledge according to his needs.
PERSON ENVIROMENT
Have basic needs that are components of health. Settings in which an individual learns a unique
Requiring assistance to achieve health and independence pattern for living.
or a peaceful death. All external conditions and influences that affect life
Mind and body are inseparable and interrelated. and development.
Individuals in relation to families
Considers the biological , psychological, sociological, and
Minimally disusses the impact of the community on the
spiritual components. individual and family
The theory presents the patient as a sum of parts
Basic nursing care involves providing conditions under
with biopsychosocial needs.
which the patient can perform the 14 activities unaided.
CHARACTERISTICS OF
HENDERSON'S THEORY:
1. There is interraction of concepts.
2. Concepts of fundamental human needs.
biophysiological, culture, and interaction,
communication are borrowed from other
disciplines (ex: Maslow's theory)
3. Her definition and components are logical and
nurse in reaching the chosen goal.
4. Relatively simple yet generalizable.
5. Applicable to the health of individuals
of all ages.
6. Can be the bases for hypotheses that can
be tested.
7. Assists in increasing the general body of
knowledge within he discipline. 3 levels compromising the Nurse-
8. Her ideas of nursing practice are
Patient Relationship
well accepted. ~The nurse as a partner with the patient - working the patient
9. Can be utislized by practitioners to guide (COMPLEMENTARY)
and improve their practice. ~The nurse as a substitute for te patient - doing for the patient
(SUBSTITUTIVE)
~The nurse as a helper to the patient helping the patient
(SUPPLEMENTARY)
LIMITATIONS: weaknesses:
There is an absence of a conceptual C --Henderson's Theory can be
applied to nursing practice
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Lack of conceptual linkage between
physiological and other human diagram that interconnects the 14 as a way for nurses to set
characteristic. concepts and subconcepts of goals based on Henderson's
No concept of the holistic natre of
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Henderson's theory 14 components.
C
human beings
On assisting the individual in the dying --Her emphasis on basic
If the assumption is made that
process, there is a little explanation of human needs as the
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the 14 components prioritized,
the relationship among the
what the nurse does to provide central focus of nursing
"peaceful death" practice has led to further
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components is unclear.
theory development
Lacks interrelate of factos and the application of the theory regarding the needs of the
influenence of nursing care.
S
Henderson's Needs Theory can be appplied
to nursing practice as a way for nurses to person and how nursing
"Peaceful death" is a curious and set goals based on Henderson's 14
can assist in meeting
significant nursing role
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components.
those needs.
Meeting the goal of achieving the 14
strengths: needs of the client can be a great basis to --Her definition of nrsing
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further improve one's performance
Virgnia Henderson's concept of nursing is and the 14 components of
towards nursing care.
widely accepted in nrsing practice today.
In nursing research, each of her 14 fundamental
basic nursing care are
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Her theory and 14 components are concepts can serve as a basis for research uncomplicated and self-
relatively simple, logical, and can be although the statements were not written in explanatory
applied to individals of all ages. testable terms.
