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Meaning of nursing according to Virginia Henderson
Virginia henderson nursing theory paper abstract
Virginia henderson theory and nursing practice
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Nursing has been and always will be a profession that is constantly changing. Nurses were once prostitutes, thieves, and women who were forced to practice as a nurse instead of serving jail time. Today, however, nursing is looked at as one of the most respected and well-regarded careers. There were several people who contributed to the change in nursing from years ago to what it is today. Virginia Henderson was one of those people. Called the first lady of nursing by many, Henderson is credited with creating the definition of nursing. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Virginia Henderson was the fifth child born to her parents. Henderson and her family soon moved to Washington D.C where her father spent much of his time traveling. Henderson …show more content…
Based on Henderson’s theory, we can critique the clarity, generality, simplicity, empirical precision, and derivable consequences. The clarity of Henderson’s theory is great. She provides the information in a way that is clear and to the point. There is no information that is unnecessary or not relevant to her definition. The generality of the theory is high. Henderson’s definition is broad and therefore can be applied to almost all nursing situations. The simplicity of the theory is also high. It is easy to read and understand. The empirical precision of the definition is great as well. It serves its purpose as a basis for basic nursing care and goals for the health of a patient. Lastly, the derivable consequences, or importance, is also great. It provides nurses with a basic understanding of nursing and allows them to have a base to build upon with other nursing …show more content…
Because Henderson’s definition is so broad, it can be applied to almost every setting in which a nurse is providing care to a patient. Since the theory being so broad, one can question how two different patients would be treated in the emergency room. If one patient came in with stomach aches, while another came in with a large laceration on their arm, would they be treated the same? As Henderson’s definition provides the basic goal of helping a patient gain health and independence, one can assume that both patients would be treated the same on the basis that the nurses would treat them in a way to assist them in gaining health and independence. Virginia Henderson helped nursing by providing a broad definition of what nursing is and giving a base for all nurses to build upon with other theories that will shape their nursing career. We learned through Henderson that nursing comes down to helping the patient. It is up to the nurse to assist and guide the patient to good health and independence. It is also important that we use other theories we agree with to gain even more knowledge about nursing and its
Nursing’s development from an occupation to a profession follows the devotion and sacrifice of many amazing women throughout history. Considered to be one of the oldest professions, women have performed what could be considered nursing duties since the beginning of time. Although there have been many events and many individuals who have contributed to nursing’s evolution from the occupation it was once considered to the profession that now exists, the development of formal education opportunities and scholarly resources and the women who created them is what fascinates me most. Without knowing, each of the following five women helped lay the groundwork for what Lucie Kelly, RN, PhD, FAAN, eventually termed the eight characteristics of a profession
Morkes, Andrew Yehling, Carol Walsh, Nora and Walsh, Laura. Ferguson’s Careers in Focus: Nursing. Second Ed. Chicago: Ferguson Pub., 2003. Print
McEwen, M., & Wills, E. M. (2002). Theoretical basis for nursing. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
In particular, the use of Florence Nightingale’s theory of nursing as the basis of my new practice had allowed me to begin with the basics and work my way forward toward a more modern and holistic approach to nursing care. While Florence’s work focused mainly on the military and her care of soldiers, she began to establish schools of nursing to promote nursing education and to encourage people to view nursing as a viable profession, (Alligood, 2014. 63). Nightingale’s focus may have been care of the military, but she made great strides on getting recognition for nursing and her theories still affect the practice of nursing today. In the article, Nurses as Leaders, the author proposes that nurse leaders have made great strides since Nightingale’s time when nurses were conscripted to help care for wounded soldiers. Such a setting required these early nurse pioneers to rely on critical thinking and quick action in order to save lives. The author goes on to discuss how a change in nursing occurred in the early 20th century as new management styles emerged, most notable the “Scientific Management,” model. This style placed doctors at the top, then nurse managers, and on down to bedside care staff. Though this did allow some nurses the ability to move upward, nurses resented a doctor being in charge of their teams as the work of a physician and that of a nurse are two very different practices, ("Nurses as Leaders," 2016). This is quite different from the modern concept of a nurse executive as leader of
The idea of a being a nurse has always been a driving force in my life. Throughout my Licensed Vocational Nursing Program I had my first encounters with sick people and the hospital setting. Observing my mentors I witnessed the difference they made in peoples lives. In my Registered Nursing Program I had the privilege of doing clinical rotations at The Veteran Affairs Hospital in Fresno, California. It was here that it was most profound that nurses not only heal the physical ailments of a patient but also those of the mind and spirit. I looked forward to spending time with the patients and listening to their histories while providing care. Through these experiences grew my personal philosophy of nursing. Nursing
Thorne, S. (2010). Theoretical Foundation of Nursing Practice. In P.A, Potter, A.G. Perry, J.C, Ross-Kerr, & M.J. Wood (Eds.). Canadian fundamentals of nursing (Revised 4th ed.). (pp.63-73). Toronto, ON: Elsevier.
Nursing is a field of work that so many people find themselves fascinated with, as well as harboring a degree of respect. We look to nurses with a sense of admiration and reverence, and look to them for security in times of need. What makes nursing such a desirable and enthralling field to other people? Despite the fact that doctors are normally under the spotlight, nursing is of profound importance in American culture. Nurses provide comfort and security, as well as a knowledge of medical aid. The field of nursing has the benefit of coming from a field that is ancient, yet timeless and has blossomed throughout history to make a large impact on our culture today.
Nursing is a growing and constantly changing profession, making a bigger impact in healthcare with every turn. In fact, it was not so long ago that nursing was not even thought of as a profession and we have come a long way since the pioneer days of Florence Nightingale. Nursing is steadily evolving in terms of opportunities, educational requirements, professional recognition, and the advancement of nursing theories. These theories influence the environment, the patient, health, and overall nursing. Nursing theories will continue to evolve and guide as we continue to explore and learn new ways to improve overall nursing practice not only for the sake of the patients, but also for the future of nursing as a whole. However, when one looks to the future of nursing, they must also remember where it started; the basics of Florence Nightingale and that “Were there none who were discontented with what they have, the world would never reach anything better” (Nightingale, 1859).
The oldest recognized professions dating at least as far back to medieval and early modern times were divinity, medicine, and law. They were also referred to as "learned professions." Nursing is no longer considered a vocation and its professional status continues to be a topic of debate. Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, established the fundamentals of professional nursing in 1860 with the founding of the first nursing school at St Thomas' Hospital in Lon...
Anyone who has any doubt of what a nurse can do should read “I’m just a nurse” poem, which summarized the major benefits of nurses and nursing as a whole. As I felt impressed with the variety of things a nurse could involve in and assist the health care, everyone’s believes would change to the better after reading it. Moreover, I believe that nursing is getting known more and more and with time, there will be no one thinks about nursing in a negative way. For nurses who don’t realize the role of nurses, they should empower themselves with lifelong learning to be more appropriate to the nursing
When a nurse is providing patient care, he/she creates a safe environment for the patient and enables the choice to establish a relationship on a human to human interaction or on a transpersonal level. The patient will be acknowledged as a person with the wholeness of their soul despite their illness or number on the bed. The ten carative factors in this theory are used as an education tool for nurses around the world and should be applied to the different care situations in practice. Nurses use the factors to promote growth in themselves and within the patient. A nurse should respect the patient’s decisions and take the time to fully be present in the moments with the patient. A lot of nurses complain about the time limitations they have and do not provide the necessary amount of time to listen and gather the patient’s perspective of the situation. Another way this theory can be applied to practice is by recognizing the caring moment between you and the patient. This will determine how the relationship will
Virginia Henderson’s needs theory provides a definition of nursing, describes nurse’s role, and formulates a nursing care which is focused on assisting individuals to reach a level of independence in meeting with basic human needs. I found Virginia Henderson’s needs theory easy to incorporate in to clinical practice and serve as a guide for the patient and nurse to reach the chosen goal.
Nursing is one of the oldest professions. It isn’t a static occupation, as it has changed frequently over time. Its development and evolution has changed differently depending on the historical influences. As of today the nursing profession is changing and becoming larger and greater. Nursing has gone from being a career that did not require an education, to being one that is very respected and demands a high education.
Hanucharumkul, S. (1989). Comparative analysis of Orem's and King's theories. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 14, 365-172.
She was able to identify individual’s needs, which carried forth in to her theory. She wanted to set standards and values that would meet the broad range of human needs, yet be able to recognize individual differences among patients (Anderson, 1999). Because Henderson was primarily a nurse educator, her theory focuses on the education of nurses. Her theory was created from both her education and practice, making her work appealing to both ends of the spectrum (McEwen & Wills, 2011). Her theory is focused on the needs of a patient but in Henderson also emphasizes the importance to continue education and research. She stresses the significance of constantly searching for the best solutions and practices for optimal patient care (Anderson,