The life span of nursing cannot be summed up into one general facet of time, but rather, into periods that revolutionized and evolved continuously from the first evidence of medicine to present modern day medicine. The entire medical field, including nursing practice, does not pause when new technologies are brought forth; there is never a moment where work towards the future is not being put into action. Virginia Henderson stated, “Nursing theories mirror different realities, throughout their development; they reflected the interests of nurses of that time” (As cited in Powell, 2012). Without questions and theories to propel the inquisitive nature of medical practice such as nursing, modern medicine would not be as advanced as it is today. Therefore, to appreciate how far we have come, nurses must recognize the work of others. Without the work of theorists, such as Virginia Henderson, the profession of nursing may not have become an occupation with as much merit as it has today.
Virginia Henderson is often referred to as “The Nightingale of Modern Nursing” or the “Modern-Day Mother of Nursing” (Flynn, 1997). Henderson’s definition of nursing is,
“The unique function of the nurse is to assist the individual, sick or well, in the performance of those activities contributing to health or its recovery (or to 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" (As cited in Powell, 2012).
Throughout her career as a nurse, Henderson had the opportunity to observe the lifestyle and needs of thousands of individuals, both well and ill. Her observations allowed her to relate to the demands all persons have...
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...damental human needs of an individual, a quality healthcare experience may never have been established.
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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
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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.
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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
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,