Virginia Hendersons Need Theory revised

Virginia Henderson’s Need Theory
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Virginia Henderson’s Need Theory
The Need Theory and its major concepts
This essay discusses the Nursing Need Theory established by Virginia Henderson who was often called “the nightingale of Modern Nursing.” The theory includes many important concepts, for example, emphasizing the importance of improving the independence of a client for the purpose of promoting their progress in healing after they are hospitalized (Ahtisham,& Jacoline, 2015). Virginia’s description of nursing was the first to differentiate between medicine and nursing. More precisely, Henderson philosophy used the four meta-paradigm. These concepts are (Henderson, 2013):
Health
It is the same as individuality or the aptitude to do accomplishments without being aided in the 14 important or rudimentary personal needs.
Nurses ought to emphasize the elevation of well-being, prevent disease and treat.
To achieve health, knowledge, strength and will are vital
Health is fundamental to the functioning of human beings
Promoting health is more important than caring for the sick.
Environment
It includes the external conditions as well as influences affecting life and its development.
A nurse is wanted and expected by the society to for individuals who cannot act independently while, in return, nurses expect contribution from the community to nursing education.
The seven prerequisites that the environment must have and they include light, temperature, air movement, atmospheric pressure, appropriate waste disposal, minimized quantities of hazardous chemicals as well as the purity of any surface that comes into interaction with individuals.

The situation can be changed in a style that will help in patient upkeep.
In that case, Virginia Henderson’s Description of Nursing stated that a nurse has a unique function to assist an individual who is sick or healthy in execution all doings that underwrite fitness and retrieval that he/she can achieve without aid if he/she had the necessary forte (Barnum, 1990).
About the Theorist
The theorist was born in Kansas City in Missouri, and it is there that she was called the Nightingale of the contemporary nursing. (Butts & Rich, 2013). The theorist started schooling at the Army School of Nursing 1918. For two years after graduating, she worked at Henry Street Visiting Nurse Service. Virginia was very popular and in 1924, she was employed as an instructor at the Norfolk Protestant Hospital. She later joined Columbia University for her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Science and Art respectively (Barnum, 1990). She was then working at Yale University as a Research Assistant. In other words, the theorist was not only prominent in her theories but also for being a prolific writer. She had received honorary doctorate degrees from a couple of universities. Other achievements include revising Harmer’s definitive book of healing for the fourth edition. Then, she inscribed the fifth edition where she merged her meaning of nursing in 1991. Henderson died in 1996 (Alligood, 2013).
Example of Need theory in nursing practice
A 25 yrs old female patient was admitted for surgery for attempting suicide. Days earlier she swallowed toilet detergent due to a family disagreement. The client lives in a rural area. She did not want to share the reason she had attempted to commit suicide only stating she had her stress. The physical examination done on the client revealed her to be alert oriented but depressed. She was chiefly complaining to have mood swings and difficulty in breathing while scans indicated that her larynx was damaged plus she had mouth and stomach ulcers (Butts & Rich, 2013). Although the diet physician advised that liquefied food is administered to her, she showed dislike and resisted eating. Since the patient was willing to cooperate and converse her feeling with the nurses, the case was successful by engaging this theory. Henderson viewed the nurturing procedure as a solicitation o analytical method to the answers of the issue (Henderson, 2013). The nurse used a systematic and dynamic way of collecting data as a significant step in providing nursing care. The nursing diagnosis was later developed to address her clinical condition. Most importantly, the client was provided with care through intervening by the outcomes as Henderson’s theory suggests.
Application of the theory of nursing practice and care of patient
There is still a full application of Henderson’s theory to professional nursing today. The functions of nursing include assisting patients in their daily activities and more so those that are not capable of doing it because of condition that is incapacitating. For example, the 14 fundamental Needs that Henderson describes have been very influential in the practice of nursing. In the clinical setting, it is very evident how the nurses are tasked with assisting clients to meet their needs whether physical, social, emotional or spiritual (Barnum, 1990). More precisely, nurses do so by addressing the patient’s ability to breathe normally, drink and eat adequately not to mention, eliminate wastes from the body and other primary concern that are supposed to be addressed by a nurse. Also, nurses are devoted to the actual practice of 24 hours-7days a week. According to Alligood (2013), that is a reflection of the theory’s similar value in task presentation for one of the nursing goals which is to promote a high level of client independence.
However, even where power and familiarity are unavailable, nurses act as a fleeting representation in serving customers to find services that not even their families can provide. In Henderson’s theory, breathing is a primary need, and regular breathing is must be checked on a patient ll the time. There is always the need that oxygen is administered accordingly. The theorist’s claim in nursing gives the proclamation for prompt initiation of legitimate needs, for example, the nasogastric ducts supplement used to feed patients and maintain their nourishment (Butts & Rich, 2013). Similarly, catheterization is proposed for a patient who requires general surgeries with the aim of helping their excretion of wastes. Courtesy of the Need theory, meeting the 14 key needs of the clients has been a large foundation for progressive improvement of performance concerning nursing care. For that reason, it has been the standard component of nursing care delivery that is core from infancy to senescence.
Philosophy of nursing in relationship to Henderson’s need theory
My philosophy of nursing is characterized by my desire for a nursing team works together in nursing to improve the health and happiness of myself and the public uninterruptedly. I also take and honor patient’s individual opinion of themselves and their domain. Also, my philosophy is one that helps integrate exploration and evidence-based practices to develop better standards of care. In that case, the Need theory is vital in making my philosophy work (Henderson, 2013). My philosophy is highly patient-centered. Just as Henderson indicates, there different individual basic wants, and they are health components. Therefore, it is my desire to offer help for health and sovereign achievements or even support rest in peace. The theory also deliberates the influence of the public on the individual and family. My primary nursing care encompasses offering circumstances where the patient can self-reliably execute the 14 works in the model.
References
Alligood, M. R. (2013). Nursing theorists and their work. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Barnum, B. S. (1990). Nursing theory: analysis, application, evaluation. Scott Foresman & Company.
Butts, J. B., & Rich, K. L. (2013). Philosophies and theories for advanced nursing practice. Jones & Bartlett Publishers.
Henderson, V. (2013). Nursing Theories Practice Group.
Masters, K. (2014). Nursing theories: a framework for professional practice. Jones & Bartlett Publishers.