HENDERSON’S
THEORY
Tamil Selvi C
MSc Nursing
CON
JIPMER
What Is Nursing Theory?
Organized, knowledge-based concepts that essentially define the
scope of nursing practice.
Crucial to the concept of nursing
Why we need Nursing Theory?
•
Provide a foundational knowledge of care concepts that enable
those in the profession to explain what they do for patients and the
reasons for their actions.
●
It helps nurses articulate evidence that justifies the methodologies
behind their practice.
Theorist
Virginia Henderson
●
Born on March 19, 1897in Kansas city,
Missouri, US
●
1921- Received Diploma in nursing.
●
1923- Joined Norfolk protestant hospital in Virginia.
●
1929 - Entered teachers college at columbia university.
●
1932 - Earned her bachelor's degree.
●
1934.- Masters degree
Henderson’s theory
• 1953- Joined as a research associate at Yale University School
of Nursing (To survey and assess status of nursing research in
the US).
• 1959 - 1971- The Nursing Studies Index project.
• Referred as
“Florence Nightingale of twentieth century”
EVOLUTION OF THEORY
• In the revision of a nursing textbook “Textbook of the
principles and practice of nursing” written by canadian nurse
Bertha Harmer- Henderson recognized the need of a clear
definition for nursing
• Many states had no provision for nursing licensure to ensure
safe and competent care for the consumer. Henderson was
committed to the process of regulating nursing practice
through state licensure
ASSUMPTIONS OF THE NEED THEORY
1) Nurses care for patients until they can care for themselves
once again.
2) Patients desire to return to health.
3) Nurses are willing to serve, and that “nurses will devote
themselves to the patient day and night.”
4) Henderson also believes that the “mind and body are
inseparable and are interrelated.”
MAJOR CONCEPTS
●
Person- composed of biological, psychological, sociological
and spiritual components
●
Environment- aggregate of all the external conditions that
influences and affecting the life and development.
●
Health - ability to independently satisfy his or her basic needs
MAJOR CONCEPTS
Nursing- assisting the individual sick or well in the performance
of those activities contributing to the health or recovery (or to
peaceful death) that he would perform unaided if he or she had
the necessary strength, will, and knowledge.
CHARACTERISTICS OF HENDERSONS THEORY
• Definition of nursing as her concept
• Emphasized the importance of increasing the patients
independence.
• Framed 14 components based on human needs
• Nurses role as substitutive, supplementary, and complementary
• concepts are interrelated and simple.
COMPONENTS OF HENDERSON’S THEORY
COMPONENTS OF HENDERSON’S THEORY
COMPONENTS OF HENDERSON’S THEORY
HENDERSON’S THEORY AND NURSING PROCESS
ASSESSMENT
• Assess the needs of human being based on the 14 components.
• Consider the strength, will and knowledge of the person
NURSING DIAGNOSIS
• Compare data to knowledge base of health and disease
• Identify individuals ability to meet the needs.
OUTCOMES
• Establish desired outcomes
HENDERSON’S THEORY AND NURSING PROCESS
PLANNING
• Design a plan to meet patient needs based on the deficits.
IMPLEMENTATION
• Assist the individual and the family in meeting the human needs to
maintain health.
• Interventions based on physiological principles, age, cultural
background, emotional balance, physical and intellectual capacities
• Carry out prescribed treatment
HENDERSON’S THEORY AND NURSING PROCESS
EVALUATION
• Based on degree to which the patient performs the activities of
daily living independently.
APPLICATION OF HENDERSON’S THEORY
NURSING PRACTICE
• Applied as a way for nurses to set goals.
• Helping to achieve these 14 needs can improve one’s
performance.
APPLICATION OF HENDERSON’S THEORY
NURSING EDUCATION
• Provides general focus for curriculum design
• Guides curriculum decision making.
NURSING RESEARCH
• All of the 14 concepts serves as a basis for research.
• Offer a framework for generating knowledge and new ideas.
• Emphasized the importance of research in evaluating and
improving nursing practice.
HENDERSON’S THEORY
STRENGTHS
• Concept of nursing – widely accepted
• Definition and components are logical and simple.
• Applicable to all ages
• Can be a base for hypothesis that can be tested.
• Assists in increasing the general body of knowledge.
• Can be utilized to guide and improve practice
HENDERSON’S THEORY
LIMITATIONS
• Lack of conceptual linkage between physiological and human
characteristics.
• Relationship among the components is unclear.
• Needs are individualistic. May require added needs with progress of
time.
• Some of the activities can be applied only to fully functional
individuals. Not explained about patients with permanent disability.
• Nurses role in assisting the individual in dying process is not
explained adequately.
CONCLUSION
The concept of nursing formulated by Henderson in her
definition and the 14 components are uncomplicated and
self explanatory.
Can be used as guide for nursing practice. Many of the
ideas she presented continue to be used worldwide to
guide nursing curriculum and practice.
