...The Virginia Henderson Need Theory Samantha Hodge Estrella Mountain Community College English 102 Professor Jason Guertin December 18, 2015 The Virginia Henderson Theory Nursing theories have been in existence for many years, however, the use of these theories in practice have been minimal (Younas & Sommer 2015). In many nursing schools however, students are mandated to apply nursing theories. Application of these have indicated improved organization in practice and higher quality of care, while in reality practicing nurses do not utilized these teachings (Younas & Sommer 2015). In this paper, Virginia Henderson Theory will be analyzed to show how it can be applied to the clinical setting. The components of this theory as it relates to human needs will be examined and the nurse’s role with regards to patient care. The Need Theory Henderson’s theory surrounds the concept of getting the patient to a state of independence, so as to promote continued wellness after hospitalization (Younas & Sommer 2015). The theory also grouped nursing care into fourteen components which are very similar to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs diagram. These needs range from physiological needs, which accounts for the first nine components to psychological needs which covers the tenth and fourteenth components (Younas & Sommer 2015). The eleventh component deals with the patient’s spiritual and moral needs, and the remaining two components are sociological...
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...Concept Comparison and Analysis across Theories “Nursing theory is the term given to the body of knowledge applied to support nursing practice. Nursing theory is a framework designed to organize knowledge and explain phenomena in nursing, at a more concrete and specific level. A nursing theory is a set of concepts, definitions, relationships, and assumptions or propositions derived from nursing models or from other disciplines and project a purposive, systematic view of phenomena by designing specific interrelationships among concepts for the purposes of describing, explaining, predicting, and prescribing” (“Currentnursing.com”, 2010). Core concepts embody a theory creating the basis for the theory or model. In nursing, concepts help in the development of theories. Theorists have developed different models or theories but have common core concepts. Dorothea Orem’s self-care deficit nursing theory “The central philosophy of the Orem’s self-care deficit nursing theory is that patients want to care for themselves and can recover more quickly and holistically by performing their own self-care as much as they're able. The self-care requisites identified by Dorothea Orem fall into one of three categories” (“Currentnursing.com”, 2010): 1. Universal self-care requisites. a. Air b. Water c. Food d. Activity e. Rest f. Hazard prevention. 2. Developmental self-care requisites. a. Maturational: progresses the patient to a higher level of maturation. b. Situational:...
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...Nursing Theory Plan of Care Fintan O’Connell NUR/513 May 23, 2012 Francine McDonald Care Plan for Ronald Issler |Nursing Process |Data and Relevant Information | |1. Breathe normally |Complains of shortness of breath, oxygen saturation 88% on room air, | | |heart rate 58, chest x-ray with bilateral lower lobe infiltrates, | | |history of DVT. | |2. Eat and drink adequately |Height 6 ft., weight 147 pounds. BMI 19.7 (lower range of normal). | | |History of congestive heart failure, takes diuretic. Hemoglobin and | | |hematocrit levels low (HGB 10.4 gm/dl, HCT 29.6%) | |3. Elimination of body wastes |History of congestive heart failure (as noted above), elevated | | |creatinine level of 2.0 mg/dl | |4. Move and maintain posture |Increasing weakness...
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...Importance of Nursing Theory Chamberlain College of Nursing Theoretical Basis Adv Nursing NR501 July 20, 2015 Importance of Nursing Theory Theory is an arrangement of thoughts meant to describe something. These thoughts and ideas usually have basic principles that validate the purpose of the proposed theory. Nursing theory is a well thought out scholarly structure of concepts. These concepts are created to help guide nursing practice. They explain the fundamentals of nursing care. Multiple clinical decisions are based upon nursing theories. There are many different types of nursing theories developed primarily by nurses. Nursing theorist’s main goal is to examine nursing practice and explain the working or non-working parts of nursing. Theorists frequently use their academic and clinical experiences when producing theories. A very popular and influential nursing theorist in the twentieth century was Virginia Henderson. The development of her Nursing Need Theory has greatly impacted nursing practice today (Waller-Wise, 2012). This paper will include four sections. Section one will examine how theories have an impact and importance to the nursing profession. Section two will review the relationships among the concepts of Henderson’s Nursing Need Theory. Section three will examine two real-life examples illustrating the views of Henderson’s Theory. Section four will contain a summary and conclusion along with the knowledge gained from writing this paper. Section...
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...Application to Nursing Practice Henderson’s theory emphasizes the importance of increasing the patient’s independence with a goal toward wellness. She believed that there are 14 core components, based on human needs, required for effective nursing care. Henderson described nursing roles as assisting with essential activities to maintain health, to recover, or to achieve peaceful death (Henderson, 1991). In practice today, nurses use this theory to ensure that the physical needs, as well as psychological, spiritual, and social needs of the patient are met. Nurses willingly give time and dedication to care for basic needs, along with recognition of the holistic needs of the patient. When all of these needs are effectively addressed, the patient will be able to progress to wellness more easily. An effective way for nurses to practice this theory in patient care is to apply it when utilizing the nursing process as a logical approach (George, 2010). On assessment, the nurse can identify all of the unique needs of the patient based on the physical diagnosis. The nursing outcomes, care plan, and implementation of goals should be centered and focused on promoting independence of the patient. The overall evaluation should look at how successful both the patient and nurse were in building a plan together toward wellness and independence. By carefully working through the steps in the nursing process, holistic needs of the patient will be met and the nurse will have helped the patient...
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...Many consider Virginia Henderson a legend in nursing. Henderson viewed nursing as “doing for others what they would do for themselves if they had the strength, will, and the knowledge; and also that the nurse helps the patient to carry out the plan of therapy prescribed by the physician” (Smith, 1989, p. 69). She saw the function of the nurse as helping the patient. Virginia believed a nurse should focus on helping the patient recover and rehabilitate quickly. She saw the practice of a nurse as being different from that of the physician, yet she believed both roles were an integral part of the rehabilitation phase. Henderson also believed the nurse should be independent from the physician and make independent judgments (Henderson, 1966, p. 22). Henderson proposed 14 basic human needs that help focus the nursing care (Alligood & Tomey, 2010, p. 56). She believed these 14 needs would help a patient return to independence. She believed only a dedicated and devoted nurse would help a patient fulfill these needs. According to Henderson, a nurse that helped a patient acquire independence or helped a patient accept their limitations was a successful nurse (Henderson, 1966, p. 23). The diagram below depicts Henderson’s 14 basic human needs. They are divided into four categories: physiological, psychological, social/moral, and sociological. Henderson claimed that the physiological needs are experienced by all human beings and are the most important for survival. If the physiological...
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...Grand Theory Nursing theory is determined by a combination of ideas, explanations, relationships, and premise developed by nurses to describe nursing care and practices (Application Theory, 2012). Nursing theories provide knowledge and direction towards the guidelines of how to improve and perfect nursing care (Application Theory, 2012). There are three categories of nursing theories: grand theories, middle-range theories and situation-specific theories (Meleis, 2012). Grand theories focus on a wide range of “experiences, observations, insights, and research findings” (Meleis, 2012, p. 33). These theories are developed over many years of practice and study and are not subjected to empirical testing (Meleis, 2012). Middle range theories have a more limited focus and concentrate on more of a specialized situation in the nursing practice so they are subject to empirical testing (Meleis, 2012). Situation-specific theories concentrate on a specific situation and are limited to that subject matter (Meleis, 2012). The intention of this paper is to explore grand theories. Grand theories are divided into four sub-groups: needs, interaction, outcome and caring (Meleis, 2012). Some of the issues grand theorists concentrate on include the development of the patient to nurse relationship, a patient’s ability to adapt to environmental challenges, and self care deficits (Smith & Parker, 2010). To provide more insight into the specifics of grand theory, 4 theorists were...
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...him/her gain independence as rapidly as possible (Virginia Henderson, 1961).” Henderson's work is widely used by nurses in different nations because of its practicality and realistic application in nursing practice. The nursing assessment, diagnosis, plan and evaluation parallels the doctors' general decision-making processes. Relevance Henderson’s work is essential to clinical nurse today. With the major shift in emphasis of nursing care today, nurses should be able to use Henderson’s model in caring for the patient. The patient’s ability to perform the 14 basic human needs should be assessed before considering the kind of care function to administer. It is essential to determine if one will be performing as a helper, a doer, or substitute, or a partner. Nursing interventions are implemented according to the 14 basic human needs of the patient. The degree of performance, involvement of the patient and level of the nurse activity will be dependent on the specific role the nurse will be playing. Objectives: After the completion of the discussion, the graduate student shall have: ➢ Acquired knowledge and understanding of the development of Henderson’s theory ➢ Defined Henderson’s theory ➢ Related the conceptual framework to the current clinical setting ➢ Identified and enumerated examples of application of Henderson’s theory in clinical practice...
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... Henderson’s Nursing Theory Critique Gaylinn Breeze Maryville University Abstract This paper aims to provide an in depth critique of Henderson’s Nursing Theory using Fawcett’s framework for analysis and evaluation of nursing models. This paper will provide an analysis of the theory based on its scope, context and content. Secondly, the paper will provide an evaluation to unearth its significance, internal consistency, testability, as well as provide empirical and pragmatic adequacy. Lastly, the paper will give a detail of its assumptions and limitations. Virginia A. Henderson’s Nursing Theory Critique Virginia A. Henderson was considered a mother of nursing in the advent of modern day nursing. Her contribution to the nursing system was widely considered as a tool for transforming the nursing practices in health facilities. She gave elaborate guidelines and drew attention of nurses towards what an effective nursing practice would require of them. In her own setup, she carried out research and formulated a theory. Her theory of nursing focused on providing patients with factors that would enhance independence for the patients. In her efforts to transform the patient’s care approach, she acknowledged that basic needs were of primary concern in enabling a functional nursing approach. Her relationship between nursing care and basic needs propagated the ‘Needs Theory’. Scope and Origin ...
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...Billy Mishak N491 Concepts and Theories in Nursing Module 2 9/30/2014 Nightingale’s Visit Florence Nightingale’s core belief was in hygiene and to her the central element of healthcare (Parker & Smith, 2010, p45). Florence being a staunch proponent of the healing properties environmental cleanliness provided and her belief in nursing as her calling from God, “ The first thought that I can remember, and the last, was nursing work..” (Parker & Smith, 2010, 36), so few things inhibited her from achieving order and cleanliness. Nightingale’s provisions to those she cared for was cleanliness, order, encouragement to eat, feeding, clean bed linen, clean bodies, and clean wards (Parker & Smith, 2010, p40). Nightingale’s absolute adherence to these beliefs at times bordered on obstinacy and her efforts where credited with better patient outcomes. Community Health is a difficult field in any situation most notably because being in another persons home takes that measure of environmental control away that is afforded by the hospital setting. The community nurse in this case is confronted with a home environment that is not fit for human living, her quick visual assessment skills pointed out a two year old on the floor playing with a cat, a full liter box in the corner next to the changing table. The changing table had two half-empty formula bottles, an empty box of wipes, and three soiled diapers. The two year old goes from playing with the cat on the floor to holding...
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...the health care field. Limited health literacy affects a patient's entire health care experience. Patients with low health literacy are more likely to miss preventive measures, which will most likely require rehospitalization. It is imperative for nurses to avoid jargons and use simple language to get the message across. While Henderson’s theory supports nursing as a profession in assisting patients who are well or sick and ensuring 14 basic needs, Orem’s theory is more contemporary where a nurse engages patient in plan of care and guides the patient to be self-dependent in the acquisition of knowledge and skills. Orem’s theory supports that client has the primary responsibility of personal health, with the nurse acting as a guide. Furthermore as long as self-care abilities equal or exceed self-care demands, such patients have no need for nursing ( Hohdorf,2010). However, if self –care deficit is recognized ,nurses should individualize care based on patient situation and must clearly communicate in order to improve and coordinate patient care. In order to improve and coordinate patient care, decisions made by nurses must be individualized to the patient situation, information collected by nurses must be clearly communicated to other health care providers and nurses must actively intervene and suppor Hohdorf, M. (2010). Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory in Ingolstadt -- an approach to practice development in nursing care. Self-Care, Dependent-Care...
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...Theory is defined as the systematic abstraction of reality that serves some type of purpose, usually including sets of concepts, definitions, and propositions. Nursing theories are known to evolve instead of being purposely made. “Nursing theories are the creative products of nurses who seek to thoughtfully describe the many aspects of nursing in ways that could be studied, evaluated, and used by other nurses” (Sitzman & Eichelberger, 2011). Virginia Henderson’s theory will help to explain the different concepts of nursing and how they are critiqued. “Maintain or restore the independence of the individual so that he can satisfy himself and his effortless 14 basic needs” (Potter and Perry, 1992) Analyzing the role and function of the nurse and enjoying the wide clinical experience, Virginia Henderson offers early 1960 a conceptual model based on fourteen basic needs. Before arriving there, she participated in the publication of a reference book on the principles and practices of nursing which included everything you needed to know at the time when we were nursing. It is also noted here, and among other things, the importance of nutrition, elimination, rest, cleanliness, a body temperature and Recreation regarding the sick. (Schmidt, 1972) For Virginia Henderson, the satisfaction of these needs has become increasingly essential. It in helping to satisfy, in addition to or in assisting the individual, family or group, helping to recover the capacity to do so, or preventing further...
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...Conceptual Influences Jennie Golden-Wear Aspen University Concepts and Theories in Nursing June 04, 2012 Applied Conceptual Influences Nursing theorist have over time provided incredible structure by conceptual influence in developing theory utilized in nursing education and practice. This paper will explore a variety of nursing theories including that of Florence Nightingale, Virginia Henderson, and Lydia Hall. Developing care plans and referencing case studies, the theories of Hiligard Peplau, Joyce Travelbee, and Ida Jean Orlando will also be observed. This exploration is meant to enlighten the reader of theories structuring nursing as a practice. Case study #1 The following case study is based on community healthcare visitation to a home for a post-partum follow-up involving a young woman, Isabel. Isabel was a mother of two children, Jerry her two-year old son and Pearl her three-week old daughter. The scene of Isabel’s unclean, ill maintained, single room and so-called home now, was a challenging observation for the visiting nurse. Despite the horrendous site of an overflowing box of dirty cat litter, the dirty diapers, dried food, and spoiled bottles of formula; the nurse was drawn to the values of Florence nightingale. This approach allowed a great deal of compassion for the depressed, frustrated, and exhausted young mother. Fostering receptivity would be a priority in creating a plan of care. First, the nurse knew she must gain Isabel’s confidence in her skill...
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...and Analysis Across Theories Julie McKay NUR/513 Theoretical Foundations of Practice December 06, 2014 Stephanie Vaughn Ph.D. R.N. CCRN A concept is a term that theoretically describes and names a fact or phenomenon, thus providing it with a separate identity or meaning. Nurses use theories to clarify the events through nursing practice. A concept analysis provides insight to nursing knowledge and understanding of the concepts allows nurses to determine nursing actions (George, 2011). Quality of Life Quality of life (QOL) is a contemporary phrase which was first heard after the Second World War and, since then, has been frequently used but not well explained (Meeberg, 1993). Most theorists have at least an unexpressed belief that human health and QOL are associated closely. It is the interest of most healthcare providers to promote QOL for those who are seeking help. However, nurses cannot work with clients to attain QOL if the goal is unclear (Meeberg, 1993). Both Virginia Henderson and Rosemarie Parse are influential nursing theorists that share a common concept of QOL. This paper will explore perspectives in regards to QOL between these two theorists. Henderson’s Theory Virginia Henderson believed humans have universal needs of water, air, and food for survival, and everyone plays a part of the contribution to the well-being of each other leading to the creation of a healthy society. Nurses care for patients, sick or well until they can care for themselves independently...
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...not as though nursing theory has only recently come into existence this century. Real theorists have been hard at work developing the theoretical framework for nursing practice for some time. For whatever reason, one desires to become a nurse, we must all start at the beginning...
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