Virginia Henderson (Nursing Needs Theory/Basic Needs Theory)

Virginia Henderson

(November 30, 1897 - March 19, 1996) Developed the Nursing Need Theory (aka Need Theory)

Physiological Needs (9)

1. Breathe normally 2. Eat and drink adequately 3. Eliminate body wastes 4. Move and maintain desirable postures 5. Sleep and rest 6. Select suitable clothes - dress and undress 7. Maintain body temperature within normal range by adjusting 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

The 14 components (in order)

1. Breathe normally 2. Eat and drink adequately 3. Eliminate body wastes 4. Move and maintain desirable postures 5. Sleep and rest 6. Select suitable clothes - dress and undress 7. Maintain body temperature within normal range by adjusting 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 emotions, needs, fears, or opinions. 11. Worship according to one's faith 12. Work in such a way that there is sense of accomplishment 13. Play or participate in various forms of recreation 14. Learn, discover, or satisfy the curiosity that leads to normal development and health and use the available health facilities.

Psychological Aspects of Communicating and Learning (2)

10. Communicate with others in expressing emotions, needs, fears, or opinions. 14. Learn, discover, or satisfy the curiosity that leads to normal development and health and use the available health facilities.

Spiritual and Moral (1)

11. Worship according to one's faith

Sociologically Oriented to Occupation and Recreation (2)

12. Work in such a way that there is sense of accomplishment 13. Play or participate in various forms of recreation

Why are we using this?

Henderson's Needs Theory can be applied to nursing practice as a way for nurses to set goals based on Henderson's 14 components. Meeting the goal of achieving the 14 needs of the client can be a great basis to further improve one's performance towards nursing care. In nursing research, each of her 14 fundamental concepts can serve as a basis for research although the statements were not written in testable terms.

Metaparadigm

Person - An individual achieves wholeness by maintaining physiological and emotional balance. Someone who needs nursing care but did not limit nursing to illness care. (A sum of parts with biopsychosocial needs and the mind and body are inseparable and interrelated.) Health - Not explicitly defined in Henderson's theory, health was taken to mean balance in all realms of human life. Environment - Did not explicitly define the environment. However, Henderson stated that maintaining a supportive environment conducive for health is one of the elements of her 14 activities for client assistance. Nursing - "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 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 him gain independence as rapidly as possible."

What is the purpose of the 14 components of Need Theory

The 14 components of the Need Theory show a holistic approach to nursing that covers the physiological, psychological, spiritual and social needs. The 14 components are categorized by these descriptions (not in order) The next card will show them in order while the following ones will be categorized by description.

Summary

This a simpler version of Abdellah's 21 Nursing problems because Abdellah based her theory on Henderson's work Straight forward theory that outlines the basic needs of a person. We can use this as a guideline to assess a patient's needs if some components are not met.