Application of the Henderson Nursing Model from a Holistic Perspective - Article Example

?Running head: HENDERSON MODEL FROM A HOLISTIC VIEW Application of the Henderson Nursing Model from a Holistic Perspective ] Abstract Virginia Henderson founded the Henderson Nursing Model before it was acceptable to consider medical treatment from a holistic perspective. This paper looks at how the Henderson Nursing Model fits with the holistic treatment perspective and past applications of this nursing theory with holistic medicine. After reviewing the key elements of the Henderson Nursing Model and how this might fit with a holistic perspective the paper then uses an exemplar model to describe the author’s experience with this idea. Application of the Henderson Nursing Model from a Holistic Perspective Virginia Henderson was an advanced woman of her time. By 1934 she had earned both her Bachelors of Nursing and her Masters Degree in Nursing Education and was well on her way towards making one of the biggest changes in nursing history. In an era where nurses were starting to be appreciated for more than their ability to change dressings, Henderson’s work on a theory of nursing was the right move at the right time in history (“Nursing Theory,” 2011). Henderson’s Nursing Model Henderson is known as a “needs theorist” (Kim & Kollak, 2006, p.17). Her prime theory was centered on the idea that a nurse’s position was to help the individual to gain their own independence. This lent a flexibility to the nursing model; an idea that a nurse could be many things to the same patient. Henderson put it as “assisting the individual, sick or well, in the performance of those activities contributing to the health or its recovery (or to a peaceful death) 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” (1961, p. 42). Although Henderson updated this in 1985 to reflect a more modern way of looking at health care, her basic premise has always stayed the same (See Henderson, 1985, p.5). Henderson’s theory reflected a shift in nursing attitudes in that she believed nursing should always be viewed from the perspective of the patient especially in terms of quality and the desire for healthy living for all patients regardless of the setting (Daly et al, 2005). She was also a strong proponent for the idea that the nurse’s obligation and duty is to the patient rather than the doctor which was a prevalent belief prior to that time. Nicholl (1997) wrote about her “Henderson’s definition of nursing was a major shift from the task-procedure perspective and one of the earliest widely used definitions to present a conceptualization of nursing that included function and goal” (p.509). Henderson viewed a nurses function as being either substitutive (doing something instead of the patient); supplementary (helping the patient directly to do something) or complementary (working with the patient to do something). This way the patient had a certain control over how his or her treatment went; with the nurse identified as someone who can facilitate that process (“Nursing Theory”, 2011). This emphasis on the patient having some control over his or her health and treatment is one aspect that resonates with holistic health practices. Holistic Medicine and the Henderson Nursing Model Holistic medicine is defined as a “doctrine of preventive and therapeutic medicine that emphasizes the necessity of looking at the whole person—his body, mind, emotions, and environment—rather than at an isolated function or organ...holistic medicine puts ownership of the patient's health back with the patient, teaching the precepts of exercise, a good diet, adequate sleep, fresh air, and moderation in personal habits” (Shaw, 2008). Originally considered “new age” and totally against the medical methods of treatment, in more recent times holistic aspects of health care are working alongside mainstream medical techniques. While it could not be said that Virginia Henderson was a supporter of the holistic theory of health there are commonalities between the two aspects that do overlap. For example Henderson’s position as a needs theorist meant that her ideas were closely aligned with four basic nursing concepts. (1) An individual patient who can be described as a physical and psychological being who is unitary or inseparable in mind and body: (2) It also reflects Maslow’s hierarchy of needs: (3) an individual’s environment is made up of a number of different elements including physical, biological, social and cultural aspects and (4) that the patient’s environment is close interrelated with health. Henderson thought beyond the hospital walls – she wanted her patients to be treated to the point where they could continue to improve in their own home environment and to function as well as possible in their daily life. She wrote, “Rehabilitation involves in its final phase, re-establishing the patient in productive employment” (Henderson, 1991). This viewpoint is not at odds with holistic ideals. In her work on Comfort Theory Kolcaba (2003) noted that if the 14 basic physiological and psychological functions of human beings outlined by Henderson (1978) were being addressed (by nurses) then the patient would be in the “comfort state of ease” (Kolcaba, 2003, p.66). Those fourteen functions were breathing, nutrition, elimination, movements, rest and sleep, worship, work, dressing and undressing, adjusting body temperature through clothes or the environment, cleanliness, avoiding accidents and not hurting others, communication with others, learning health goals, and play (Kolcaba, 2003, p.66). This idea too encourages the nurse to think beyond the walls of the medical environment and think of her patient as a part of his environment, both during treatment and when he is discharged. Exemplar: The Henderson Nursing Model in Action This example is a patient/nurse interaction that occurred recently and shows elements of the Henderson Nursing Model. The patient (Kate) was 15 year old first time mother who was about to give birth. On arrival at the Emergency Dept Kate was bleeding heavily from her vaginal area. She was 36.4 weeks into her pregnancy. On examination Kate was diagnosed as placenta previa. She had elevated blood pressure (155/120 bp); there was an inconsistent fetal heartbeat ( Read More