Virginia Henderson
By Lindy Hilding and Connie Chrisman
About Virginia Henderson
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Born in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1897.
Diploma in Nursing from the Army School of Nursing at
Walter Reed Hospital, 1921.
Worked at the Henry Street Visiting Nurse Service for 2
years after graduation.
In 1923, started teaching nursing at the Norfolk Protestant
Hospital in Virginia
In 1929, entered Teachers College at Columbia University
for Bachelor’s Degree in 1932, Master’s Degree in 1934.
Joined Columbia as faculty, remained until 1948.
Research associate at Yale University School of Nursing,
1953
Honorary doctoral degrees from 5 different Universities
In 1985, honored at the Annual Meeting of the Nursing
and Allied Health Section of the Medical Library
Association.
Died: March 19, 1996.
Also Known As:
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“The Nightingale of Modern Nursing”
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“Modern-Day Mother of Nursing.”
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"The 20th century Florence Nightingale."
Virginia Henderson's Definition
of Nursing:
"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"
Theory Background
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She called her definition of nursing her
“concept”
She emphasized the importance of
increasing the patient’s independence so
that progress after hospitalization would
not be delayed
"Assisting individuals to gain
independence in relation to the
performance of activities contributing to
health or its recovery"
Theory continued...
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She categorized nursing activities
into 14 components, based on
human needs.
She described the nurse's role as
substitutive (doing for the person),
supplementary (helping the person),
complementary (working with the
person), with the goal of helping the
person become as independent as
Henderson's
Philosophy in Practice:
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While a nurse's job is to care for patients, it is
also to help patients be able to care for
themselves when they leave the healthcare
facility. This will help ensure that the patient has
fewer setbacks during recovery from the illness
or injury, and will help the transition into selfcare be smoother since a nurse will be helping
and supervising along the way until the patient
goes home. For those nurses who work in
rehabilitation, Henderson's theory is one that
can be easily used every day.
14 Components of Basic Nursing Care
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Breathe normally.
Eat and drink adequately.
Eliminate body wastes.
Move and maintain desirable postures.
Sleep and rest.
Select suitable clothes-dress and undress.
Maintain body temperature within normal range by adjusting
clothing and modifying environment
8. Keep the body clean and well groomed and protect the
integument
9. Avoid dangers in the environment and avoid injuring others.
10. Communicate with others in expressing emotions, needs, fears,
or opinions.
11. Worship according to one’s faith.
12. Work in such a way that there is a sense of accomplishment.
13. Play or participate in various forms of recreation.
14. Learn, discover, or satisfy the curiosity that leads to
normal development and health and use the available health
Henderson Theory in OB:
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Breathe Normally
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Move and maintain desirable
position
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Communicate with others in
expressing emotions, needs, fears,
or opinions
Henderson Theory in
OR:
• Move and maintain desirable position
• Maintain body temperature within
normal range by adjusting clothing
and modifying the environment
• Keep the body clean and well
groomed and protect the integument
Henderson's Theory & 4 Major
Concepts of the Nursing Model
1. Individual
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Have basic needs that are component of health
Requiring assistance to achieve health and
independence or a peaceful death
Mind and body are inseparable and interrelated
Considers the biological, psychological,
sociological, and spiritual components
Continued...
2. Environment
o Settings in which an individual learns unique pattern for
living
o All external conditions and influences that affect life
and development
o Individuals in relation to families
o Minimally discussed the impact of the community on
the individual and family
Continued...
3. Health
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Definition based on individual's ability to function
independently as outlined in the 14 components
Nurses need to stress promotion of health and
prevention and cure of disease
Good health is a challenge-affected by age, cultural
background, physical and intellectual capacities, and
emotional balance is the individual's ability to meet
these needs independently
Continued..
4. Nursing
Temporarily assisting an individual who lacks the necessary
strength, will and knowledge to satisfy 1 or more of 14 basic
needs.
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Assists and supports the individual in life activities and
independence.
Nurse serves to make patient “complete” “whole", or
"independent."
The nurse is expected to carry out physician’s therapeutic
plan.
Case Study:
39 week gestation, arrives in active labor, contracting every 23 minutes. Major c/o intermittent mid-lower back pain
with contractions. Rating pain 8/10. SVE 8/80/-2. Fetal
heart tone baseline 105 with late decelerations. C-section
called by OB Provider.
Patient to OR, report received, anesthesia procedure
completed, catheter in place, patient positioned. Procedure
completed, baby to nursery, patient to PACU.
1. While in OB (as compared to OR), which "nursing role" is
described in this case study?
a) Substitutive
b) Supplementary
c) Complementary
Case Study Continued...
2. In the scenario where is the first place
emotional balance (4 Major Concepts of
Nursing Model) should be addressed?
a) PACU
b) postpartum
c) discharge
References
Henderson, V. (2006). The concept of nursing. Journal of
Advanced Nursing, 53(1), 21-31. doi: 10.1111/j.1365
-26
Lynaugh, Joan E. (1998). Virginia Avenel Henderson,
1897-1996. Wellcome Library for the History and
understanding of Medicine. 6(2), 176-187.
Nursing Theories: A Companion to Nursing Theories &
Models, (2012, February 4). Virginia Henderson's
Need Theory. Retrieved from
http://currentnursing.com/nursing_theory/Henderson
.html
Nursing Theory, (2011). Nursing Theorists: Virginia
Henderson. Retrieved from http://nursing-