Ernestine Wiedenbach

The Helping Art of Clinical Nursing

Danela Cosejo-Duran, RN, MAN (ue)
 Ernestine Wiedenbach
Background
Ernestine Wiedenbach is known for her work in theory development and maternal
infant nursing developed while teaching maternity nursing at the School of Nursing,
Yale University.
Wiedenbach taught with Ida Orlando at Yale University and wrote with philosophers
Dickoff and James a classic work on theory in a practice discipline that is used by
those studying the evolution of nursing theory
She directed the major curriculum in maternal and newborn health nursing when the
Yale School of Nursing established a master's degree program and authored books
used widely in nursing education.
 Ernestine Wiedenbach
NURSING
Her definition of nursing reflects her nurse-midwife background as follows: “People
may differ in their concept of nursing, but few would disagree that nursing is
nurturing or caring for someone in a motherly fashion”
Wiedenbach’s orientation is a philosophy of nursing that guides the nurse's action in
the art of nursing.
She specified four elements of clinical nursing: philosophy, purpose, practice, and art.
She postulated that clinical nursing is directed toward meeting the patient's perceived
need for help in a vision of nursing that reflects considerable emphasis on the art of
nursing.
She followed Orlando’s theory of deliberate rather than automatic nursing and
incorporated the steps of the nursing process.
 Ernestine Wiedenbach
How to identify patient’s needs according to Weidenbach?

1. Observing behaviors consistent or inconsistent with their comfort

2. Exploring the meaning of their behavior
3. Determining the cause of their discomfort or incapability
4. Determining whether they can resolve their problems or have a need for help
 Ernestine Wiedenbach
Philosophical Assertions
Wiedenbach proposed that prescriptive theory would guide and improve nursing
practice.
Her work is considered a philosophy of the art of nursing.
Thank you.