Henderson’s Model for Basic Principles of Nursing Henderson’s Model
Virginia Henderson’s model of nursing has become one of the most influential frameworks guiding nursing practice globally. Since 1960, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) has recognized and promoted Henderson’s definition of nursing through her seminal work, Basic Principles of Nursing Care. This publication provided a standardized description of nursing functions, ensuring that nurses around the world understood the scope and responsibilities of their practice. Henderson’s work was initially derived from the earlier publication Textbook of the Principles and Practice of Nursing (1955), which became one of the most widely used nursing textbooks in English and Spanish-speaking nations.
Henderson’s third book, The Nature of Nursing (1966, 1991), provided further insights into the nursing profession, offering a detailed examination of how nursing intersects with four essential functions of professional practice: service, education, research, and leadership. The principles and functions of nursing as outlined by Henderson remain foundational, influencing how nurses are trained, how they care for patients, and how nursing contributes to the broader healthcare system.
Nursing Functions According to Henderson
Henderson defined the unique role of the nurse as one of assisting individuals—sick or healthy—in activities that contribute to their health or recovery. The essence of nursing, according to Henderson, is to help individuals regain their independence as quickly as possible, whether that is in the context of health maintenance, recovery from illness, or achieving a peaceful death.
In her view:
- The nurse’s primary role is to assist individuals with basic health-related activities, such as eating, drinking, eliminating waste, moving, and maintaining body posture. If patients cannot perform these tasks independently due to illness or injury, nurses provide the necessary assistance and support.
- Additionally, nurses provide care for special populations, such as newborns or individuals at the end of life, whose needs differ from those of the general population. Nurses must also address pathological conditions, such as disturbances in fluid and electrolyte balance, acute oxygen deprivation, and other life-threatening conditions that modify a person’s basic needs.
Henderson’s model places a significant emphasis on promoting patient independence. The role of the nurse is not simply to perform tasks for patients, but rather to empower them by providing knowledge, skills, and support to regain control over their own health.
Henderson’s Model in Practice
Henderson’s model offers a profound understanding of the nurse’s role in healthcare. She famously compared the nurse to a temporary substitute for the patient, stating that the nurse is temporarily “the consciousness of the unconscious, the love of life for the suicidal, the leg of the amputee, the eyes of the newly blind, a means of locomotion for the infant, and knowledge and confidence for the young mother” (Henderson, 1997). This analogy emphasizes the nurse’s responsibility to act as an extension of the patient until they can regain their autonomy.
Developed in the post-antibiotic era, Henderson’s model is a modernization of Florence Nightingale’s work, Notes on Nursing. While Nightingale’s model focused primarily on the environment and its effects on patient health, Henderson’s model is more intervention-focused, addressing the patient’s direct needs. Henderson’s model stressed that nursing is not exclusive to hospital settings, nor does it require a physician’s directive to function effectively.
Evaluation of Henderson’s Model by Other Pioneers
Henderson’s model has undergone several evaluations and has been validated by other pioneers in the field of nursing. For example, Gladys Nite explicitly tested Henderson’s model in clinical experiments focusing on effective nursing care for cardiac patients (Nite & Willis, 1964). Additionally, Mary Naylor and colleagues (Brooten & Naylor, 1995; Naylor et al., 1999) implicitly tested Henderson’s model in their research on clinical nursing care and patient outcomes. Their studies focused on the impact of “nurse dose” or the amount of nursing care provided, which directly ties into Henderson’s emphasis on the unique contributions of nursing to patient health.
Other studies, such as those by S. Douglas and colleagues (1995) and Landefeld et al. (1995), examined the effectiveness of nurses in different roles and settings, further validating the universality and flexibility of Henderson’s nursing model. Their research supports the idea that nursing care, as described by Henderson, has broad applications and can be adapted to various healthcare contexts.
Principles and Practices of Nursing According to Henderson
In her textbook, Principles and Practice of Nursing (6th edition), Henderson organized the nursing literature and synthesized evidence to create a reference text that served as a guide for nursing professionals. This textbook, co-authored with Gladys Nite in 1978, incorporated numerous citations from the professional literature, compiling knowledge about nursing from 1900 to 1960. The textbook offered a comprehensive review of nursing theories and practices, presenting an evidence-based approach long before the term “evidence-based practice” became a standard in healthcare.
One of Henderson’s key contributions was to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application in nursing. Her work emphasized that nursing is not a static or fixed profession but is constantly evolving based on new research, evidence, and experiences. The guiding principles of nursing practice according to Henderson center around patient care, education, research, and leadership—four pillars that remain central to the nursing profession today.
Extensions of Henderson’s Model
Over the years, Henderson’s model has been extended and validated by both nursing scholars and practitioners. Three of her papers further developed her model, with two offering validation and one providing a critique. In The Concept of Nursing (1978), Henderson specifically addressed her nursing model, further emphasizing its practical application in healthcare settings.
Additionally, in Preserving the Essence of Nursing in a Technological Age, Henderson extended her ideas to include nursing care in high-technology environments, such as intensive care units. This paper emphasized the need to maintain the core principles of nursing—caring for the patient and addressing their basic needs—even in environments dominated by advanced technology. Henderson also critiqued the concept of the “nursing process” in one of her papers, arguing that it unnecessarily constrained the profession’s vision and limited the scope of nursing practice by reducing it to a rigid set of procedures.
Impact of Henderson’s Model on Modern Nursing
Henderson’s model has had a profound influence on the nursing profession, shaping both nursing education and practice. Her emphasis on patient autonomy and independence has been particularly impactful in the context of chronic illness care and rehabilitation. By focusing on helping patients achieve independence, Henderson’s model encourages nurses to adopt a holistic approach to care that addresses not only the physical needs of the patient but also their emotional, psychological, and social needs.
Henderson’s model has also influenced the way nurses are educated, particularly in regard to clinical decision-making and patient advocacy. Nurses are taught to assess patients’ needs comprehensively and to intervene in ways that promote health and recovery while empowering patients to take control of their own care.
Conclusion
Virginia Henderson’s Basic Principles of Nursing Care remains a foundational work in nursing education and practice. Her model emphasizes the unique role of nurses in assisting individuals with their health needs, promoting patient independence, and supporting recovery. Henderson’s model has been validated and extended by numerous nursing scholars, and it continues to influence modern nursing practice. By focusing on the patient’s autonomy and the nurse’s role as an advocate and caregiver, Henderson’s model provides a timeless framework that continues to guide nursing practice in the 21st century.