Virginia Henderson

DEFINITION
OF NURSING
VIRGINIA HENDERSON
VIRGINIA HENDERSON
Born in Kansas City, Missouri in 1897. Received a Diploma in Nursing from the Army School of Nursing at Walter Reed Hospital, Washington, D.C. in 1921. Worked at the Henry Street VisiIng Nurse Service for 2 years aJer graduaIon. In 1923, started teaching Nursing at the Norfolk Protestant Hospital in Virginia In 1929, entered Teachers College at Columbia University for her Bachelors Degree in 1932 and her Masters Degree in 1934.
Her deniIon of nursing was one of the rst statements clearly delineaIng nursing from medicine: "The unique func9on of the nurse is to assist the individual, sick or well, in the performance of those ac9vi9es contribu9ng to health or its recovery (or to peaceful death) that he would perform unaided if he had the necessary strength, will or knowledge. And to do this in such a way as to help h i m g a i n i n d e p e n d e n c e a s r a p i d l y a s possible" (Henderson, 1966).
She emphasized the importance of increasing the paIents independence so that progress aJer hospitalizaIon would not be delayed (Henderson, 1991) She described the nurse's role as subs9tu9ve (doing for the person), supplementary (helping the person), complementary (working with the person), with the goal of helping the person become as independent as possible. She categorized nursing acIviIes into 14 components, based on human needs.
THE 14 COMPONENTS
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Breathe normally. Eat and drink adequately. Eliminate body wastes. Move and maintain desirable postures. Sleep and rest. Select suitable clothes-dress and undress.
THE 14 COMPONENTS
7. Maintain body temperature within normal range by adjusIng 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 emoIons, needs, fears, or opinions. 11.Worship according to ones faith.
THE 14 COMPONENTS
12.Work in such a way that there is a sense of accomplishment. 13.Play or parIcipate in various forms of recreaIon. 14.Learn, discover, or saIsfy the curiosity that leads to normal development and health and use the available health faciliIes.
THE 14 COMPONENTS
The rst 9 components are physiological. The tenth and fourteenth are psychological aspects of communicaIng and learning The eleventh component is spiritual and moral The twelJh and thirteenth components are sociologically oriented to occupaIon and recreaIon.
The major assumpIons of the theory are:

"Nurses care for paIents unIl paIent can care for themselves once again. PaIents desire to return to health, but this assumpIon is not explicitly stated. Nurses are willing to serve and that nurses will devote themselves to the paIent day and night. A nal assumpIon is that nurses should be educated at the university level in both arts and sciences.
Hendersons Theory and the Four Major Concepts

Individual Have basic needs that are component of health. Requiring assistance to achieve health and independence or a peaceful death. Mind and body are inseparable and interrelated. Considers the biological, psychological, sociological, and spiritual components. The theory presents the paIent as a sum of parts with bio-psycho-social needs, and the paIent is neither client nor consumer.

Environment Sefngs in which an individual learns unique pagern for living. All external condiIons and inuences that aect life and development. Individuals in relaIon to families Minimally discusses the impact of the community on the individual and family.

Environment Supports tasks of private and public agencies. Society wants and expects nurses to act for individuals who are unable to funcIon independently. In return, she expects society to contribute to nursing educaIon. Basic nursing care involves providing condiIons under which the paIent can perform the 14 acIviIes unaided.

Health DeniIon based on individuals ability to funcIon independently as outlined in the 14 components. Nurses need to stress promoIon of health and prevenIon and cure of disease. Good health is a challenge. Aected by age, cultural background, physical, and intellectual capaciIes, and emoIonal balance Is the individuals ability to meet these needs independently?

Nursing Temporarily assisIng an individual who lacks the necessary strength, will and knowledge to saIsfy 1 or more of 14 basic needs. Assists and supports the individual in life a c I v i I e s a n d t h e a g a i n m e n t o f independence. Nurse serves to make paIent complete whole", or "independent."
Nursing T h e n u r s e i s e x p e c t e d t o c a r r y o u t physicians therapeuIc plan. Individualized care is the result of the nurses creaIvity in planning for care. In the Nature of Nursing that the nurse is and should be legally, an independent pracIIoner and able to make independent judgments as long as s/he is not diagnosing, prescribing treatment for disease, or making a prognosis, for these are the physicians funcIon.
Nurses should have knowledge to pracIce individualized and human care and should be a scienIc problem solver. In the Nature of Nursing, Nurses role is, to get inside the paIents skin and supplement his strength will or knowledge according to his needs. And the nurse has the responsibility to assess the needs of the individual paIent, help individual meet their health need, and or provide an environment in which the individual can perform acIvity unaided.
Comparison with Maslow's Hierarchy of Need

Physiological Needs Breathe normally Eat and drink adequately Eliminate by all avenues of eliminaIon Move and maintain desirable posture Sleep and rest Select suitable clothing Maintain body temperature Keep body clean and well groomed and protect the integument

Safety Needs Avoid environmental dangers and avoid injuring other Belongingness and Love Needs Communicate with others Worship according to one's faith

Esteem Needs Work at something providing a sense of accomplishment. Play or parIcipate in various forms of recreaIon. Learn, discover or saIsfy curiosity.
Think about this .

Nurses dispense comfort, compassion, and caring without even a prescripIon. - Val Saintsbury

Virginia Henderson

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DEFINITION

The major assumpIons of the theory are:

Hendersons Theory and the Four Major Concepts

Hendersons Theory and the Four Major Concepts

Hendersons Theory and the Four Major Concepts

Hendersons Theory and the Four Major Concepts

Hendersons Theory and the Four Major Concepts

Comparison with Maslow's Hierarchy of Need

Comparison with Maslow's Hierarchy of Need

Comparison with Maslow's Hierarchy of Need

Think about this .

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