Virginia Henderson - Basic Human Needs Theory and Nursing Process; Its Influence on Current Nursing Practice

This paper describes how Virginia Henderson's Basic Human Needs Theory and Nursing Process has impacted current nursing practices. It discusses the relevance of Henderson's theory to clinical practice and the strengths and limitations of her theory. The paper also explores the impact of Henderson's theory on nursing education and nursing practice.

MODULE
NU4801
THINKING NURSING
TITLE
VIRGINIA HENDERSON - BASIC HUMAN NEEDS THEORY AND NURSING PROCESS;
IT’S INFLUENCE OF ON CURRENT NURSING PRACTICE
By
Student Name

Abstract:
Background: There are a plethora of theories plays a huge role as basement for the
promotion of nursing profession and nursing practice. Without theory, there is no rationale
for the nursing practice. Since the origin of nursing profession, nursing theories have been a
major role and have shown their impacts in the day to day promotion of nursing practice.
Aims: The main aim of this paper is to describe how the Virginia Henderson theory has
impacted the current nursing practices. Relevance to clinical practice: Basic human
needs of Henderson are initial activities of the nurse which helps to assess the individual
patient needs in various aspects. Nursing process is the essential element in the overall
nursing practice which helps the nurse to formulate relevant care plan in the view of
favourable outcomes. Conclusion: Among so many Nursing theories, Virginia Henderson
needs theory and nursing process has always been showing a greater impact on nursing
practice from the day of its origin. Henderson theory of basic human needs are act as
essential components in the current nursing education and nursing practice which shows its
direct impact on outcomes of the individual or patients.
Key Words:
Nursing Practice, Nursing Education, Henderson Theory, Basic Human Needs, Influence,
Nursing Theories, Current or Present, Knowledge, Nursing Concept
Acknowledgements
This research was highly supported by Deborah Jane Spencer, through her advice on what i
should do and the format to follow. I would like to thank her for such a support. The results
and views expressed in this paper are purely based on my research and insights.

Introduction:
Nursing should always be spoken and considered as a profession not as an occupation.
During the twentieth century, a progression took place in nursing education away from
informal training setting into a formal nursing education setting. Even during these changes
in the nursing education system, nurses considered education is not as an important aspect
for their profession. However, since the Second World War, the image of nursing education
and its professional growth has changed. The workplace of a professional nurse changes
promptly because of the frequent changes in the health care system. As the nursing
profession has been developing, there have been so many nursing theories that have been
positively impacted the nursing practice. Nursing theories have expanded from the options
and beliefs about the nature of what a particular theorist suspects about nursing, what is the
basis of nursing knowledge is, and what nurses do or how they implement in the factual
sphere. There are so many nursing theories which are basement for the development of the
nursing profession and greatly influence the nursing practice. Some of the major nursing
theorists and their theories include the following. (Julia, 2011)
 Florence Nightingale- Environmental Model
 Hildegard E. Peplau- Interpersonal Relations in Nursing
 Dorothea E. Orem- Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory
 Dorothy E. Johnson- Behavioural System Model
 Ida Jean Orlando- Nursing Process Discipline
 Myra E. Levine- A Model for Health
 Imogene M. King- Goal Attainment
 Martha E. Rogers-Science of Unitary Human beings
 Betty Neuman- The Neuman System Model
 Sister Callista Roy-Roy Adaption Model
Nursing Knowledge according to Henderson
Nursing knowledge is defined as the professional status of the discipline that regulates both
the technical and intellectual activities of a certain discipline and explains the degree to
which the theory, research and practices have impacted the community. There are three
different types of nursing knowledge including descriptive, explanatory and critical (Stefanos
&Melanie, 2008). According to Henderson, Nursing is mainly specified with the needs of
humanity, its objective is not only to cure the ill, heal the wounded, promote health, rest,
emotional and physical comfort but also to shelter, nourish, protect and minister all those
who need help like the physically challenged, young, aged or immature. (Julia, 2011)
History of Virginia Henderson:

Virginia Henderson was born in 1897 and died in 1996 .She was an influential nurse, a
researcher, theorist and an author earning her the titles: Nightingale of modern nursing, The
first truly international nurse, The American Florence Nightingale and First lady of Nursing.
Henderson earned Diploma in Nursing from US Army School of Nursing in Washington, D.C
in 1921. She received a Bachelor of Science in 1931/1932 and master’s degree in 1934 from
Teachers College, Columbia University. She taught “Nursing Theory” which is related to
interactive model and her patient-centred theory always stated the importance of the
relationship between nurses, patients and the nursing practices. She always says that body
and mind were inseparable (Younas & Sommer, 2015).
The Virginia Henderson definition of Nursing:
In the 20th century, Virginia Henderson was the vital force behind the development of nursing
practice. International Council of Nursing (ICN) expanded the meaning of Henderson
definition of Functions of professional nurse. Henderson gives a basic definition of nursing
which represents the exact areas where nursing care is necessary and included with various
components of nursing that implies the image of nursing. During the1958 Nursing Service
Committee of International Council of Nursing approached Henderson to describe her basic
concept of nursing and in the 1961 International Council of Nursing published the Henderson
definition of nursing.
Virginia Henderson defined the nursing profession as 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 that he/she could perform unaided if she/he had the necessary strength, will
or knowledge and to do this in such a way as to help him gain independence as soon as
possible (1966). (Charlotte & Karen, 2003)
Virginia Henderson defined the nursing role as substitutive (Doing for the person),
Supplementary (Helping the person) and complementary (Working with the person) with the
aim of helping the person become as an independent as possible. Along with the
characteristics of caring, health promotion is the vital role of the nurse according to the
Henderson definition of nursing. Henderson focuses mainly on making the person (patient)
independent and it is depending on the individual preferences. Thus, it is the responsibility of
the nurse to determine the personal values and beliefs of each patient (Michaelene & Mirr,
2006).
Virginia Henderson Concept of Nursing:
Henderson concept of nursing has been very useful in today’s nursing practices. Derived
from her insights, the modern nurses have understood that the nursing theory is related to

the metaparadigm which include Nursing, Health, Patient and Environment. Through her
nursing definition, professionals have understood that nursing career is purely based on
assisting people, sick or well and helping them to become an independent as possible.
“Patient” is someone who needs nursing care and support whereas it is not limited nursing to
the illness care. Health was not obviously defined in the view of Henderson, but it is taken as
average on all realms of human life. In the concept of nursing Henderson explained the
environment which maintains the concerned environment in her fourteen activities (McEwen
& Wills, 2014).
Virginia Henderson and her contribution:
Henderson work has greatly contributed to the nursing profession through giving definition to
nursing, describing the sovereign nursing functions, focusing on the objectives of interrelate
for the patient-centred care and building self-help approach. Henderson made outstanding
contributions to nursing during 60 years of her nursing service as a teacher, author, and
researcher. She wrote and published three books: Textbook of Principles and Practice of
Nursing (1995), Basic Principles of Nursing care (1960) and The Nature of Nursing (1966)
which are become nursing classics. All the books have been used widely by the modern
nurses to help understand the nursing career. The major contribution of Henderson to
Nursing practice is complex, her theory provides instructions to the current practitioners on
what is right to do for the patient as a basement for reliable nursing practice (Martha, Raile &
Alligood, 2014).
Virginia Henderson Basic Human Needs Theory
On the basis of physical, psychological, spiritual (or) moral, sociological aspects, Henderson
categorised nursing activities into fourteen areas which were essential for nursing practice
The need theory based on those fourteen components has become essential in various
areas of clinical settings when addressing the needs of individuals in different areas,
promoting possible nursing diagnosis, planning for a holistic nursing care and for further
interventions. Along with this, it helps nurses to gather reliable and valid data from the clients
about their health status (Younas &Sommer, 2015)
Virginia Henderson and Nursing Process:
Henderson (1980) defined the nursing process as an application of logical approach to solve
nursing problems. According to her, nursing process was supposed to include six elements:
assessment, diagnosis, outcome, planning, implementation and evaluation. Through her
guideline on nursing process, modern hospitals have been able to provide appropriate health
care which is patient-centred (Younas & Sommer, 2015).

Does Henderson theory of nursing activities lead to favourable outcomes?
Henderson’s Basic principles of nursing practice are currently the guideline in modern
nursing. They are followed by the nursing educators, nursing practitioners, administrators
around the world. The main aim of using Henderson theory in nursing is to patients become
independent by strengthening, enlightening and supporting them as per their needs, with an
ultimate goal of making them independent. Henderson’s fourteen components have
improved nursing practice by promoting the health of the individual and managing chronic
illnesses (Julia, 2011)
The Strengths of Virginia Henderson Theory:
Henderson theory emphasized on the essential components of basic healthcare such as
age, sex, personality, social status, and cultural status, physical and emotional capacity
using the fourteen components to nurture nursing practises. Through her approach, modern
nursing practice understood that every individual is unique, and these factors are interrelated
with the impact of nursing care (Julia, 2011).
The Limitations of Henderson Theory:
The main drawback in Henderson work is an inadequacy of the hypothetical connection in
between physiological and other individual characteristics. As she wrote her ideas before the
broadcasting of the holistic concept, exposure of the concept of holistic nature among the
individuals has not been clearly explored in her publications (Julia, 2011).
Henderson theory impact on current nursing practice:
Henderson always supported her work in a patient-centred approach and insisted that every
person had a right to die or dying with dignity which has become a crucial part in current
nursing practice (Julia, 2011). Henderson three classics: Basic principles of Nursing care
(1960), The Nature of Nursing (1966), Principles and Practice of Nursing (1978) have given
nurses a basic and understandable philosophy about the current nursing practices and
patient-centred care (Johnson & Webber, 2015).
According to O Malley (1996), nursing education has been influenced by the Henderson
view of nursing activities. Also, Henderson’s principles of nursing as guided by her fourteen
activities have greater influenced modern nursing practices in the 21st century. Along with
these, Henderson’s concept of nursing has been used in nursing education and nursing
practices.
Impact of Virginia Henderson theory on current Nursing Education:

Henderson work has a complex scope in current nursing education and nursing practice as
stipulated by her fourteen activities of nursing. This is because it covers the entire role of
nursing practice and her vision of nursing explains about the role of the nurse in patient
centred care. Her concept of nursing has enhanced value in extending nursing science, and
it has a special impact on nursing education.
Impact of Virginia Henderson theory on current Nursing Practice:
Henderson fourteen components of basic human needs gives the nurse to find out the
patient needs in different areas of the client to applicable in giving care to the patient in
various areas of the patient need or requirement effectively and works in different areas of
nurse-patient relationship (Younas & Sommer, 2015).
Nursing practice is complex; theory gives instructions to the nurse practitioners on what is
right to do for the patient as a basement for reliable nursing practice which is needed. In
nursing, practice without the theory becomes rote performance of activities. Henderson
theory offers the practitioner a basic for making informed decisions that are based on actual
judgement and on deliberation.
The essential purpose of theory in today’s nursing is to improve the nursing practice which is
favourably influences the health status and the quality of life of an individual, families and
communities. Henderson theory provides nurses to assess the client and address the needs
and gives the nurse an idea to organise appropriate daily care. Her theory gives the nurses
to plan and implement the care purposefully and systematically which is more efficient and
have better control over the outcomes of care.
In the 21st century, nursing education has been improving in the level of education rapidly
day to day. The nursing education would always use the concepts of theorists in their study
and the training of their nursing practice. Henderson fourteen components of basic human
needs acts as the basement for the assessment of the patient to address their needs in
various aspects and helps the nurses to promote the health of the individual by giving
validate appropriate care to the patient depending on their needs. In the practice of nursing
profession, the nursing process is the essential element in the clinical practice which directly
influences on the patient outcome. The six components of nursing process have its impacts
directly on the patient care as assessing the patient needs based on fourteen basic human
needs and find out the needs of the patient and planning appropriate care with the reliable
rationale and implementation of planned care to meet the needs of the patient and followed
by the evaluation of the outcome. An ultimate goal of this theory in current nursing practice is
to make the patient independent as soon as possible.

Henderson focused on some essential components like age, sex, personality, social status
and intellectual ability of the patient to take into consideration which is unique for every
individual and essential when assessing the patient. These components are considered as
essential in today’s nursing practice as each individual is unique and differences in their
needs.
Henderson theory and its influence on the Organ donation process:
Out of four categories of nursing theory (Metatheory, Grand theory, Middle range theory,
Practice theory) Henderson Grand theory of activities provides a wide range of views, which
are great enough for the theory to be applied for the organ donation process. Fourteen
components of basic human needs of Virginia Henderson are the essential elements of
assessment criteria for the organ donors who were willing for the transplantation. (Bruce &
Ginger, 2011)
Need theory and its impact on Pre-operative Nursing practice
Based on the fourteen activities of Nursing by Virginia Henderson, nursing practice has been
developing during pre-operative, intra-operative and post-operative phases by
communicating effectively about the needs of the patient and to develop self-assurance,
social acceptance, and self-accomplishment. During pre-operative phase, nurses assess the
needs of the patient and promoting appropriate care plan and supporting environment to the
patient which carries throughout the following intra-operative and post-operative period for
both the patient and to the family members (Gillette, 1996).
Conclusion:
Virginia Henderson is one of the famous earliest nursing theorists, titled with Nightingale of
Modern Nursing. According to her theory, the main function of the nurse is to make the
patient or individual who needs assistance independent by meeting the essential needs as
soon as possible. The Needs theory of Virginia Henderson based on the different aspects of
human needs shows its impact greatly on current nursing education and nursing practice.
The Nursing process is essential in nursing practice everywhere to provide the patient
reliable and appropriate care and it has been acts as basement for the nursing education
and nursing practice. Finally, Henderson basic human needs and nursing process has been
greatly impacting on current nursing practice.
References:

Ahtisham, Y., & Jacoline, S. (2015). Integrating nursing theory and process into practice;
Virginia’s Henderson need theory. International Journal of Caring Sciences, 8(2), 443-
450.
Alligood, M. R. (2014). Nursing Theories and their work. Elsevier Mosby.
DeLario, G. T. (2011). Virginia Henderson’s principles and practice of nursing applied to
organ donation after brain death. Progress in Transplantation, 21(1), 72-77.
Evers, G. (2003). Developing nursing science in Europe. Journal of Nursing
Scholarship, 35(1), 9-13.
George, Julia B. (2010). Nursing Theories. The Base for Professional Practice
Gillette, V. A. (1996). Applying nursing theory to perioperative nursing practice. AORN
Journal, 64(2), 261-270. doi:10.1016/S0001-2092(06)63154-2
Jansen, M. P. M. (2006). Advanced practice within a nursing paradigm. New York, United
States New York, New York: Springer Publishing Company. Retrieved
from https://search.proquest.com/docview/189455617?accountid=17233
Mantzoukas, S., & Jasper, M. (2008). Types of nursing knowledge used to guide care of
hospitalized patients. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 62(3), 318-326. doi:10.1111/j.1365-
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McEwen, Melanie. & Wills Evelyn M. (2014). Theoretical Basis for Nursing. Wolters Kluwer
health.
Raile Alligood. (2014). Nursing Theories and their work, Eighth Edition.
Tourville, C., & Ingalls, K. (2003). The living tree of nursing theories. Nursing Forum, 38(3),
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Appendices
Literature search was done to find out the suitable articles similar to the topic of “Virginia
Henderson theory and its influence on current nursing practice”. Literature search was done
by accessing into UCLAN Library on Blackboard and CINAHL Complete, Nursing and Allied

Health database by using the main terms as “Virginia Henderson”, “Need Theory”,
“Influence”, “Current Nursing Practice” and “Nursing Process” with giving the limitations as
Full text, in English language and between the years of 1990 and 2020 and log on through
university access for the articles. Out of 974 articles from the Nursing and allied public
health, with thorough study on main headings of the articles and if any shows suitable for the
chosen topic it was given with the thorough reading on abstract of the article and finally
some of the articles were chosen as the reference for the current study. Three books of
nursing theories used directly from the Uclan Library as literature search.
Nursing &
Allied Public
Health
Articles-
12
Articles-
974
CINAHL
Complete