Definition
The Henderson theory of nursing encompasses a definition of nursing, a description of the function of a nurse, and the enumeration of the 14 components that make up basic nursing care.
Description
The Henderson theory of nursing was developed by Virginia Henderson. She did not believe that she was setting out a theory, and preferred it to be thought of as a definition. Whether it is considered a definition or a theory, it has had a wide influence on concept and practice of nursing.
Virginia Henderson was born on November 30, 1897, in Kansas City, Missouri. She began her nursing education in the U.S. Army School of Nursing during World War I, from which she graduated in 1921. She also received a Bachelors of Science degree in 1932 and a Masters degree in 1934 from Teachers College, Columbia University. She also taught at Teacher's College, and at the Yale School of Nursing. She died March 19, 1996, when she was 98 years old. The Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Library is named in her honor.
The definition of nursing is the fundamental part of Henderson's theory of nursing. Henderson defined nursing as doing things for patients that they would do for themselves if they could, that is if they were physically able or had the required knowledge. Nursing helps the patient become healthy or die peacefully, and also helps people work toward independence, so that they can begin to perform the relevant activities for themselves as quickly as possible. Rather than focus on a particular task, Henderson focused on the patient. She saw how nursing could focus on the patient, and how it was possible to focus on developing a good nurse-patient relationship. This deeply affected her and she believed strongly that patient-focused nursing was the most beneficial kind of nursing for the patient.
Henderson also enumerated the 14 functions she believed to be part of basic nursing care. The nurse should help the patient to perform the following functions:
- eat and drink
- breathe
- move
- sleep
- dress
- work to gain a sense of accomplishment
- maintain normal body temperature
- eliminate wastes
- keep clean
- communicate
- participate in recreation
- worship
- avoid dangers or hurting others
- learn and discover
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