NURSING THEORIST: VIRGINIA HENDERSON BY: ANGELA KUREMSKY,
HEATHER CLAY, MONA MAHARAJ, & WHITNEY MAJOR
Slide 3
Slide 4
HISTORY OF VIRGINIA HENDERSON Virginia Henderson was born
November 30, 1897, in Kansas City, Missouri. In 1901, she and her
family relocated to Virginia. Her first teaching position was at
Teachers College, Columbia University in 1934. In 1939, her
revision of Bertha Harmers Textbook of the Principles and Practice
of Nursing was published. Virginia Henderson directed the Nursing
Index Studies Project from 1959-1971, which led to her publication
of the four volume Nursing Index Studies. Henderson was named
research associate emeritus at Yale at age 75. Virginia Henderson
for 70 years made remarkable contributions to nursing. She paid as
an advocate for humane and holistic care for patients, promoter for
nursing research, and author to widely used nursing texts.
Henderson died March 19, 1996. 4 1897-1996
Slide 5
WHY DID SHE DEVELOP THIS THEORY? Two events influenced the
development of her definition of nursing and her theory. 2 1. Her
participation in the revision of The Textbook of the Principles and
Practice of Nursing written by Bertha Harmer. Following this,
Henderson realized the need to be very clear about the role and
functions of the nurse. 2 2. She grew concerned that many states
had no provisions for nursing licensure. She felt it was important
to establish the idea of what truly makes a nurse in order to
ensure safe and competent care for patients. She examined the
earlier statements of nursing functions set forth by the American
Nurses Association and viewed these statements as non specific,
unclear, and unsatisfactory. 2
Slide 6
NEED THEORY Virginia Hendersons goal was not to develop a
theory in nursing, but a unique focus on the nursing concept. 2
Need Theory suggests that nurses should be caring for the patient,
but at the same time helping the patient gain independence so that
once they are discharged they are able to take care of themselves.
2 The four major concepts addressed in this theory are: 1. The
Individual 2 2. The Environment 2 3. Health 2 4. Nursing 2 This
theory presents the patient as a sum of parts with biophysical
needs rather than as a type of client or consumer. 2
Slide 7
THERE ARE FOURTEEN COMPONENTS BASED ON HUMAN NEEDS THAT MAKE UP
NURSING ACTIVITIES. THESE COMPONENTS ARE: 1.Breathe normally. 2 2.
Eat and drink adequately. 2 3.Eliminate body wastes. 2 4.Move and
maintain desirable postures. 2 5.Sleep and rest. 2 6.Select
suitable clothing. That is, dress and undress appropriately. 2
7.Maintain body temperature within normal range by adjusting
clothing and modifying the environment. 2 8.Keep the body clean and
well groomed and protect the integument. 2 9.Avoid dangers in the
environment and avoid injuring others. 2 10.Communicate with others
in expressing emotions, needs, fears, or opinions. 2 11.Worship
according to one's faith. 2 12.Work in such a way that there is a
sense of accomplishment. 2 13.Play or participate in various forms
of recreation. 2 14.Learn, discover, or satisfy the curiosity that
leads to normal development and health and use the available health
facilities. 2
Slide 8
Slide 9
HOW IT APPLIES Henderson described the nurse's role as
substitutive (doing for the person), supplementary (helping the
person), or complementary (working with the person), with the goal
of helping the person become as independent as possible. Henderson
wanted to work to rehabilitate patients in order to make them more
independent for themselves. 5 Nurses need to stress promotion of
health and prevention and cure of disease. 5 Each nurse would want
the 14 concepts for themselves and should strive for their patients
to heal in the same environment. 5
Slide 10
ACCOMPLISHMENTS Nursing Studies Index First annotated index of
nursing research. 2 Sigma Theta Tau International Library Named in
honor of Virginia Henderson. 2 The Virginia Henderson Award Award
created in her honor for outstanding contributions to nursing
research. 2 Received the first Christianne Reimann Prize for the
transitional scope of her work. 2 Received honorary doctorate
degrees from several universities. 2
Slide 11
SUMMARY Click to view a video summary of Henderson's life.
Slide 12
CONCLUSION The 14 components that Henderson has adopted are
ideas that all able bodied people should desire to have for
themselves. Basic human needs are self-explanatory and
uncomplicated. Hendersons practice and concepts of nursing match
how she defines nursing. Henderson has proven to be an important
part of how nursing care should be provided; a sort of team-like
approach and not just a nurse doing for a patient but assisting
them into full rehabilitation. Care may be different today if her
principles had not been adopted into current practice.
Slide 13
REFERENCES 1 Clark, J. (1997). The unique function of the
nurse. International Nursing Review, 44(5), 144-152.
http://eds.b.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=033cef4b-209f-4b7d-b308-abd04c893cf7%40sessionmgr112&vid=7&hid=120
2 Nursing Theory. (2013). Virginia Henderson. Retrieved from:
http://www.nursing-theory.org/theories-and-models/henderson-need-
theory.phphttp://www.nursing-theory.org/theories-and-models/henderson-need-
theory.php 3 Virginia Henderson - Nursing Need Theory - Nurseslabs.
(n.d.). Retrieved October 5, 2014, from
http://nurseslabs.com/virginia-
hendersons-need-theory/http://nurseslabs.com/virginia-
hendersons-need-theory/ 4 Virginia A. Henderson (1897-1996) 1996
Inductee. (n.d.). Retrieved September 29, 2014, from
http://www.nursingworld.org/VirginiaAHenderson.
http://www.nursingworld.org/VirginiaAHenderson 5 Virginia
Henderson's Need Theory. (n.d.). Retrieved October 1, 2014, from
http://currentnursing.com/nursing_theory/Henderson.html.http://currentnursing.com/nursing_theory/Henderson.html
6 Virginia Hendersons Nursing Need Theory. (2014, August 6).
Retrieved October 3, 2014, from http://nurseslabs.com/virginia-
hendersons-need-theory/ 7 Virginia Henderson. (1966, January 1).
Retrieved October 5, 2014, from
http://izquotes.com/quote/236610