A Nursing Theory: Virginia Hendersons Need Theory - Essay Example

? Nursing Theory Nursing Theory A theory is a group of related ideas or thoughts that are used to explain or describe a specificphenomenon .A nursing theory therefore explains and describes the present use knowledge in nursing and are used mostly by nurses to exercise their day to day nursing activities. A nursing theory usually helps a nurse to be able to describe, predict or explain the occurrence of certain ideas. The nurse can also be able to predict practice outcomes as well as patience’s reactions. He or she can also be in a position to explain the occurrence of the said reactions. The aim of this paper is to describe a concept from a particular nursing theory. The excerpt will also describe the application of the concept to the nursing practice as well as to particular domains. The nursing theory to derive the concept is the Virginia Henderson’s need theory. The theory includes a definition of nursing as well as the description of the roles of a nurse, in addition to enumerating the 14 components that comprise the basic nursing care. Henderson nursing theory has four major concepts namely; individual, environment, health, and nursing. This paper will describe the nursing concept. The nursing concept supports temporarily a person without necessary knowledge, will, and strength to satisfy more than one of the 14 basic needs. The concept also helps as well as supports the person in attainment of independence as well as in life activities. The concept brings out the role of nurses as that of serving to ensure the completeness of the patient or to make them whole or independent. The classic definition of nursing according to Henderson is that, “ I say that the nurse does for others what they would do for themselves if they had the strength, the will, and the knowledge. But I go on to say that the nurse makes the patient independent of him or her as soon as possible (Henderson, 2000).” The concept also shows that the nurse is required to conduct the physician’s therapeutic plan. Similarly, the individualized care is the outcome of the creativity of the nurse in planning for care. The concept also reveals the use of nursing research for instance in categorized nursing that involves nursing care and in non nursing situations like cleanliness, ordering supplies, and serving food (Sitzman & Lisa, 2004). The Nature of Nursing reveals that the nurse is and ought to be an independent practitioner, practice legally, as well as having the capability to make judgments as long as she is not conducting diagnosis. Additionally, this nature dictates that the nurse should be in a position to prescribe treatment for the illness and able to make a prognosis. All these roles describe the functions of the physicians. The concept also reveals that the nurse should possess the knowledge to conduct individualized practice as well as human care. Additionally, the nurse should be a scientific problem solver. The role of a nurse according the Nature of Nursing is to get into the skin of the patient and supplement his or her strength with knowledge or will as per his or her needs. It is the responsibility of the nurse to assess the requirements of the individual patient, assist person to meet their health need. Additionally, to offer an environment in which the person can manage their activities without aid. The classical definition of Henderson nursing claims that he feels that the nurse perform on behalf of others what they would accomplish of they had the knowledge, will as well as the strength. The concept continues to claim that the nurse makes the patient to become independent as soon as possible (Sitzman & Lisa, 2004). Discussion of how the Nursing Concept may be applied in any Domain of Nursing Practice The nursing concept of the Henderson’s need theory may be applied in numerous domains such as nursing education and nursing research as explained below. Influence on Nursing Education The nursing concept has contributed enormously to the basis of many nursing schools. To begin with is the contribution of the Henderson’s definition of nursing that expects the nurse to become expert as well as independent in their practice. The definition also calls for the nurse to be equipped with the correct knowledge in fundamental nursing care to attain their nursing goals. The field of the nursing practice has been changed tremendously by the 14 basic needs as well as the definition of the Henderson nursing concept (Henderson, 2000). Henderson’s nursing concept has brought advancement, particularly in the nursing interventions used to teach related to specific disease conditions. As Henderson proposes, the 14 basic needs place a great emphasis on the supportive as well as the assistive role of the nurse in charge of managing care. Further, as Henderson’s revision reveals, the application of the nursing process is also important. Henderson (2000) claims that the knowledge of the patient together with the family is fundamental in meeting the health of the person. According to Henderson, the health can be attained through spending time with the patient as well as studying them. The nurse should formulate a care plan as part of the nursing process in addition to coming up with an effective plan for gathering the crucial information. Therefore, inadequacy of the information would lead to low quality results of the routine care. The Nature of Nursing designed by Henderson means that scholars should go on with their learning. In the entire phases, the aim remains the same, that is, to help the patient when he or she require strength, knowledge or will in carrying out their daily chores and or conducting the prescribed therapy with the overall objective of independence. Moreover, the three curriculum phases put emphasis on the significance for the students to be engaged with the complete patient study as well as all his or her requirements. Henderson also emphasized the significance of nursing students developing the inquiry habit. This is by taking courses in the humanities, physical, biological, as well as social sciences. Similarly, students in other fields should observe as well as provide effective care in numerous settings. Henderson claims that nursing is a universal occupation as well as a higher education, which permits us to perform it better. We can all agree strongly with her emphasis on that education will result into advanced knowledge as well as obtaining more confidence to act independently with distinct mastery as well as skills. Due to the greater complexity of problems presented by the patients, it is thus via advance study that we can examine the in depth understanding of disease complexities as well as its management to change the nursing care plan. Application to Nursing Research Research breaks through the ongoing search for the improvement of patient care. Other theorists have been able to define their frameworks well through emulating Henderson’s belief of making her work with unending polishing. Henderson’s nursing concept has been a basis for enhancing the preparation for nursing. The concept also reveals the significance of research in improving as well as evaluating the nurses’ practice. Research questions can also be created from the nursing concept through utilizing the Definition of Nursing as well as using the 14 basic elements for basic care. In this case, the nurse play the role of assuming responsibility for recognizing the problems in addition to progressively validating our roles for enhancing the methods we employ as well as reassuring the effectiveness of the nursing care. It is thus encouraged to optimize the use of varying resources of knowledge from the libraries. Research is fundamental for evaluating adequately as well as improving practice for all professions and occupations, and without it according to Henderson, the evaluation cannot be achieved. Henderson strongly advocates that nursing present a challenge so that we should all recognize emerging needs beyond the suggested 14. She thus believes that research is important in nursing for the practice in the technologically improving era. Demonstration of the Application of the Nursing Concept to Nursing Practice The nursing definition according to Henderson is applicable directly to the professional nursing up-to-date. The work of nurses is to help patients in daily living activities, particularly those who lack the capability to accomplish them because of a debilitating ailment. Henderson’s 14 basic needs have been considerably influential in the nursing practice. Evidently, in the clinical settings the nurses take up the task to help the client to meet their needs. The needs may vary from spiritual, emotional, physical, or social and the nurse help the patient to address their ability to eat and drink adequately, breath normally, as well as removing waste products from the body. These are the primary concerns that the nurses ought to address. The nursing devotion of 24 hours for seven days of a week in the actual practice depicts the incomparable value of the nursing concept in duty performance because it is the objective of nursing to enhance an increased client dependence level. However, in cases where they do not possess the knowledge as well as strength, they act as a temporary proxy in assisting the patients to meet their needs that neither the family not the client can offer (Sitzman & Lisa, 2004). The fact that the incidence of stroke are increasing, who is with disabilities like paralysis, the forth role of moving as well as maintaining the required posture for patient’s help can improve the prevention of more bedsores as well as its complications. The hospitalized paralyzed patient requires the help of the nurses in his or her mobility as well as assistance to assume numerous positions in the bed. The nurse helps the patient while he or she stays helpless as to mobility, with the use of their nursing skills as well as knowledge. Some of the problems could become a distant possibility when the nurse assists the patient to turn in bed. For instance chest tapping, pressure sores, and pneumonia could be reduced. Moreover, during the entire period of hospitalization, the nurse assists the patient both with movement and educating him or her together with his or her relatives. By doing this, the independence of the patient is promoted because he or she obtains the ability as well as strength to carry out daily life activities. Similarly, the family also obtains the knowledge in the care of a disabled relative and they can hence take on the caring challenge as well as helping the patient at home following hospital discharge (Parker, 2001). Breathing is fundamental and it is the first basic need put forth by Henderson. Breathing is commonly accessible at all times. Oxygen should thus be administered accordingly. Henderson’s application on nursing provides assertion to start instant provision of biological requirements like insertion of nasogasric tube, meant for feeding in order to ensure nourishment. On the other hand, catheterization is recommended for clients with the need for general surgeries to assist them eliminate waste while they are unable to excrete consciously. It has been a great fundament to meet the 14 basic requirements so as to continue the improvement of our performances towards nursing care. This has been the daily characteristic of delivering nursing care core beginning from infancy to senescence. Henderson (2000) further explains that the body cannot be separated from the mind in addition to claiming that they are one entity. The nursing concept reveals the significance of the relationship between the development of nursing practices and patient. A direct care giver feels rewarded by seeing the progression of the patient to independence. Thus, all the 14 elements of basic nursing should be assessed, planned, implemented as well as evaluated as a core basis all through (Parker, 2001). Conclusion The research above reveals the nursing concept of the Henderson’s need theory as an important aspect in the nursing field as well as practice. The concept is mostly helpful for the patients because it emphasis on their support until they become well. The concept is applicable in many domains like in nursing practice and research as described. Hence, the central focus of Henderson’s nursing concept is the patient’s needs as well as how the nurse can help to meet these needs. References Henderson, V. (2000). Excellence in Nursing. American Journal of Nursing, 100: 961. Parker, M. E. (2001). Nursing Theories and Nursing Practice. Philadelphia: E.A. Davis Company. Sitzman, K. & Lisa, W. E. (2004). Understanding the Work of Nurse Theorists. 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