Virginia Henderson's

Philosophy
BY: ALICIA BERKLE, LISA BOTTENFIELD, PATRICIA CROSBY & MARK RUGARBER
NUR 463
10/15/2017
 Who is Virginia Henderson?

 A pioneer of nursing who did not take the

traditional course into nursing but
pursued a career under very difficult
circumstances during the WWII
 An individual who recognized that we
needed to define nursing to understand
what functions would create a successful
recovery in her patients
 She recognized that the relationship
between nurses and patients was critical
to meeting the patient’s needs
 Inspired other nurses to see nursing care
from the perspective of 14 basic needs https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=D6U%2BLDMs&id
=FE26122CFF5509572945570480CC8714C4593683&thid=OIP.D6U-
LDMspmONzpNbLHkQzgEsDh&q=a+picture+of+virginia+henderson&simid=608
(Black, 2017) 033848982833334&selectedindex=3&mode=overlay&first=1
Background on Henderson’s Philosophy
 “A list of patient needs that are the focus of nursing care” (Black,
2017, p.179).
 Henderson saw the nursing role “…as that of a substitute for the
patient, a helper to the patient or a partner with the patient” (Black,
2017, p. 179).
 Idea of nursing originated from her personal experiences and
education (McEwen & Wills, 2014).
 Description of
Henderson’s Theory
“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 (or to a peaceful death) that he would
perform unaided if he had the necessary
strength, will, or knowledge” (McEwen &
Wills, 2014, p.137).
 Three Crucial Assumptions

One Two Three

Patients will be cared “Nurses are willing to Nurses should be
for by the nurse until serve and that nurses well-educated in both
the patient can take will devote science and art at the
care of him or herself. themselves to the university level
After that the patient patient day and night”
will assume complete (McEwen & Wills,
responsibility 2014, p. 137)

(McEwen & Wills, 2014)

 Alicia’s Approach to Nursing Care
(referring back to my previous unit, Interventional Cardiology, where I worked for six years)

 Goal is to ultimately prepare the patient for discharge

 Encourage ambulation and sitting up in chair if able
 Medications: teaching the purpose and side effects
 Diet, daily weights, checking blood pressure – to be done once
discharged
 Follow up appointments

There are numerous nursing interventions and what may work for one
may not work for another. Each individual is different.
Comparing Henderson and Maslow

https://nurseslabs.com/virginia-hendersons-need-theory/
“What can I help this patient
do that he would do for
himself if he could” (Black,
2017, p.178)
 Trish’s Nursing Approach

 Just like Maslow’s hierarchy of

needs, Henderson’s theory helps me
prioritize my patient care by:
 Using individualized nursing care
plans
 Evaluating interventions based on
up to date patient needs
 Using a holistic approach
 Collaborating with patient
healthcare team
 Respecting patient rights
 Caring for the Sick, Well and Dying
Patients
 In order for me to care for patients and to gain their trust, I must first make sure their basic needs
are met by:
 Monitoring vitals signs.
 Offering food and feeding patients that are not able to feed themselves.
 Providing a quiet and safe environment so they can rest and be free of preventable accidents.
 Offering medication, distraction & guided imaginary so they can be comfortable and pain
free.
 Making sure everything I do for my patients, are things they are able to do for themselves
when they are out in the community.
 Making sure they have a peaceful death by providing comfort care and respecting their
wishes.
(Black, 2017)
 How Lisa Relates to Henderson’s
Philosophy
 There are many theories and/or philosophies that contribute to effective nursing
care, but I like Henderson’s best. The fourteen basic necessities Henderson
incorporated in her every day nursing provided not just physical improvement, but
addressed any emotional and spiritual needs which I think we forget sometimes in
our daily care of patients. I have found that Henderson’s ways hits a home run
with my medical surgical nursing unit (Black, 2017).
 According to Fernandes, Silva, Borges, and De Freitas, (2016), with the growing
challenges with individuals living longer we need to be focus on the whole person
and meeting all of their needs. She speaks of individualized care because no one
will recover at the same rate. This type of thought process is key to providing care
that is individualized for one particular person. I believe that following
Henderson’s philosophy gives me guide for total care of a sick and hospitalized
patient.
 Lisa’s Approach to Nursing Care
 Following Henderson’s
fourteen basic needs approach
in encompassing all the
patient’s needs.
 Review current plan of care
and not areas that are deficient
and make appropriate changes.
 Involved other members of the
healthcare team..
(Black, 2017)
 Be flexible with changes in
plan of care for individuals.
 Contribute new ideas
 Follow and believe the
fourteen basic needs for care.
 Assist terminally ill in
providing peace and comfort as
needed.
Mark’s Approach to Nursing Care
 Meet their physiological needs then
emotional needs.
• Oxygen requirement
• Emergent Imaging
• Life saving medications
• Chaplain services if condition worsens
 Advocate for our patients needs
• Altered mental patients
• Unresponsive
 Contact next of Kin
 Check code Status
 Maintain a safe environment https://nurseslabs.com/virginia-hendersons-need-theory/
• Bed rails / Locked stretchers
• Security in department
 Thanks for viewing our
presentation. We hope you
learned how we were able to
relate to Henderson’s
philosophy/theory of nursing.
 References
 Black, B. (2017). Professional nursing: Concepts & challenges (8th ed.). St.

Louis, MI: Elsevier Inc.

 Fernandes, B. K. C., Fernandes, M. V. C., Silva, L. F., Borges, C. L., & De Freitas, M. C. (2016).

Nursing process based on virginia henderson applied for a working elderly. Journal of Nursing,

10(9), p. 3418-3425. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/307995628

 McEwen .M., & Wills, E..M. (2014). Theoretical basis for nursing (4th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters

Kluwer Health