Henderson Need Theory

Henderson Need Theory

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Henderson Need Theory

Introduction

Nursing care is an integral part of the clinical management of a patient from the point of admission to the point of discharge and in some cases, after discharge. Despite the changes in the practice of nursing overtime, the basic principle of providing care to patients remains. Nursing theory is an organized framework of concepts and purposes designed to guide the practice of nursing. Development of nursing theories aims to guide nursing practice, explain and describe nursing care and to provide a foundation for clinical decision-making and is critical for the development of the discipline.

There are several nursing theories proposed by professionals in the nursing sector with an aim to improve the quality of nursing care given to patients. Henderson’s Need Theory is one of these, developed by Vivian Henderson, also known as the ‘Nightingale of Modern Nursing’. Henderson emphasizes the importance of increasing patient independence in relation to the performance of activities contributing to their health or recovery. Henderson defined nursing as the unique function of the nurse to assist the individual, sick or well in performing activities that contribute to health or its recovery(or to peaceful death) that the patient would perform without help if they had the necessary strength, will or knowledge. In addition, to do this in such a way as to help him gain independence as quickly as possible.

She places nursing activities into fourteen components based on human needs. They are breath normally, eat and drink adequately, eliminate body waste, move and maintain desirable body position, sleep and rest, select suitable cloth- dress and undress, maintain body temperature, keep the body clean and well-groomed and protect the integument. In addition to these, avoid dangers in the environment and avoid injuring others, communicate with others in expressing emotional needs, fears or options, worship according to one’s faith. working in such a way that there is accomplishment, play or participate in various forms of recreation, learn discover or satisfy the curiosity that leads to normal development and health and use the available health facilities. She describes the role of the nurse as substantive, supplementary and complementary with the goal of helping the client to be as independent as possible.

Reasons for choosing Henderson Need Theory

I chose Henderson’s needs theory because it is a nursing theory that is applicable to modern day nursing as it is possible to integrate this theory in several aspects of nursing practice today. This theory also relevant to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. The fourteen components of Henderson’s needs theory shed light on the important aspects of the patient which if the nurse incorporates in provision of care, there is speeding up of patient recovery and shorter duration of hospital stay. In addition to being the day-to-day components of delivering nursing care from infancy to senescence, meeting these fourteen fundamental needs of the patient is a basis to improve performance of nurses. It enables the nurse to identify patient needs and to provide nursing care in such a way that they meet these needs, and therefore positively influence the speed of patient recovery.

This theory is patient centered and emphasizes the importance of the relationship of the nurse to the patient and the development of nursing practices. It elaborates the role of the nurse and in its design, successfully wraps the components of the nursing process. This is important in facilitating patient recovery, and is rewarding to the caregiver as they see the patient progressing to independence. I strongly believe in the relevance of Henderson’s theory in the nursing care of patients of all ages and various clinical and nursing diagnoses. This is because all patients have needs that need attention in order to facilitate their recovery. This theory cuts across all nursing care specialties and there is need to put it into consideration at all times during patient care.

Applications of Henderson Need Theory in Nursing Practice

Henderson’s theory is applicable to nursing practice in various ways. Nurses assist patients in their daily activities, especially those patients who are incapable of performing these activities on their own because of a debilitating condition. The fourteen components of her theory have a great influence in nursing practice. In the clinical setting, it is evident that the nurse performs their duty to enable the client meet their physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs and to meet their primary concerns that the nurse should address through ensuring that the patient can breathe normally, eat and drink adequately and eliminate body waste.

This theory is applicable in the management of stroke patients who cannot perform their daily living activities including moving and maintaining desirable posture. Provision of nursing care through turning patient to sides two hourly, chest tapping and patient positioning using their knowledge and skills, are some of the nursing interventions in line with one of the fourteen components based on human needs proposed by Henderson. In addition to these, the nurse educates the client and their family. This promotes patient independence as they gain the strength and ability to perform various activities on their own, and facilitates good quality care provided by the family upon patient discharge.

Another application of Henderson need theory is in ensuring that the client gets the basic biological needs that enable them to live and survive through illness to recovery of health. The nurse facilitates the patient’s need to breathe through administration of oxygen in the right quantity and flow. The nurse immediately provides and inserts a nasogastric tube for feeding to maintain nourishment and to boost patient immunity through nutrition. The nurse also provides for elimination of body waste by the patient through catheterization and provision of bedpans among others.

Henderson need theory is applicable in the general management of patients by a nurse. The nursing process according to this theory entails assessment, nursing diagnosis, outcome, planning, implementation and evaluation. The assessment of patient needs and identification of those that the nurse can aid them in meeting is an essential part of nursing care emphasized by Henderson. This theory and process can be used to attend to uncooperative or difficult patients by use of a step-by-step method of identification of their needs then planning on how to attend to them one by one.

Advantages of using theory to support clinical practice

The use of a theory to support clinical practice is essential in the integration of critical thinking in professional practice in the ever-increasing complexity of nursing practice. There are several advantages of using a theory to support clinical practice. Use of a theory to guide nursing practice is beneficial in that it promotes better patient care through the provision of guidelines on patient care. Another advantage is that it provides basic information on nursing and guides professional nursing action. The use of a theory therefore leads to enhanced professional status for nurses as it provides for a structured way of performing tasks in the nursing profession. This is partly because theory emphasizes on best practices and evidence for practice in the profession.

Use of a theory improves communication between nurses as it provides a common ground for reference and justification of professional action by nurses in the workplace. Utilization of frameworks to guide beliefs and action in the changing health care environment is important to meet the emphasis on evidence and best practices. Nursing theory is beneficial as it guides research and education. In the dynamic field of nursing, theory is important in the search for solutions to emerging problems in nursing practice. Training of nurses includes incorporation of nursing theories to prepare students for the work environment and to provide guidance on the provision of patient care at the professional level. Moreover, theory structures decision making in nursing practice, linking the knowledge and action of art and science of nursing.

Conclusion

Nursing theories are a critical and essential entity in the nursing profession. Henderson need theory focuses on patient needs and the importance of meeting these needs to facilitate quick patient recovery. This theory appears to be applicable to all ages and all patient conditions, proving to be favorable and excellent for ensuring quality patient care. Henderson’s definition of nursing and the fourteen components of her theory are relevant in the dynamic nursing environment, and if applied lead to favorable outcomes in nursing care. Use of theory to guide clinical practice proves relevant and important in development of best practices and in the evolution of the nursing profession.

References

Ahtisham, Y., & Jacoline, S. (2015, May-August). Integrating Nursing Theory and Process into Practice:Virginia’s Henderson Need Theory. International Journal of Cring Sciences, 8(2), 443-450.

Alligood, M. R. (2013). Nursing THeory Utilization and Application. Missouri: Elsevier.

Julia, G. B. (2009). Nursing Theories- The base for Professional Nursing Practice. Norwalk, Appleton&Lange.

Reed, P. G. (2006, July). The Force of Nursig theory-guided practice. Nursing Science Quartely, 19(3), 225.