PAPER

VIRGINIA HENDERSON'S DEFINITION OF NURSING THEORY

Prepared to fulfill the tasks of the Basic Concepts of Nursing Course

supporting lecturer : Athanasia Budi Astuti, SKp.MN

Arranged by :
Aldo Antonio Barera P27220022088
Aziza Laila Fitrianti P27220022093

STUDY PROGRAM OF APPLIED NURSING GRADUATE STUDY

HEALTH POLYTECHNIC MINISTRY OF HEALTH SURAKARTA
2022
 FOREWORD

In the name of Allah, the most Gracious and Merciful. All praise is due to
Allah SWT, the lord of the worlds, for His extraordinary mercy and grace so that
we can complete this paper in order to fulfill group assignments for the Basic
Concepts of Nursing Course entitled Virginia Henderson’s definition of nursing
theory.
We would like to say thank you to ma’am Athanasia Budi Astuti who has
given this assignment to increase our knowledge and insight. We also want to say
thank you to those people who helped in the preparation of this paper.
We realize that in writing this paper we are still far from perfect, therefore
we are happy to accept criticism and suggestions build from readers. We hope this
paper will be informative useful for readers or other parties who need it and us at
specifically.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

FOREWORD.........................................................................................................ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS.....................................................................................iii
CHAPTER I............................................................................................................1
1.1 Background of the Paper...............................................................................1
1.2 Problem Formulation.....................................................................................1
1.3 Purpose of the Paper......................................................................................2
CHAPTER II..........................................................................................................3
2.1 Virginia Henderson Biography......................................................................3
2.2 Nursing Theory According to Virginia Henderson........................................3
2.3 Application of Henderson's Theory in the Nursing Process..........................6
2.4 The Advantages and Disadvantages of Virginia Handerson's Theory...........8
2.5 Sample Case...................................................................................................9
2.6 Influence of Virginia Henderson’s Definition of Nursing...........................13
2.6.1 Education...............................................................................................13
2.6.2 Practice..................................................................................................14
2.6.3 Research.................................................................................................14
CHAPTER III......................................................................................................15
3.1 Conclusion....................................................................................................15
3.2 Suggestion....................................................................................................15
BIBLIOGRAPHY................................................................................................16
 CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Paper

Theory is a set of concepts/constructs, definitions and propositions that
attempt to explain the systematic relationship of a phenomenon, by detailing
the causal relationships that occur. In the world of nursing there are various
theories. These theories were put forward by nursing experts. In general,
nursing theory is a view or guideline that is applied in nursing both for
education and practice. In 1950 to 1959 there were many figures who put
forward nursing theory, one of which was Virginia Henderson.
In 1955 Virginia Henderson explained the definition of nursing. Virginia
nursing theory led to many advances in education, research, and training. In
the nursing process, nursing theory is very important to be applied in
providing care nursing to clients. Nursing care is a process or a series of
activities in nursing practice that are provided directly to clients in various
settings. Nursing care is carried out based on the principles of nursing as a
profession based on knowledge and tips on the client's objective needs to
overcome a problem at hand.
Applying nursing theory is very important for a nurse because it will
improve the ability of nurses through method theory can be developed
theoretically and systematically so that the nursing process is easier to do and
nursing care can be carried out in hospitals.

1.2 Problem Formulation

1.2.1 Who is Virginia Henderson?
1.2.2 What is Virginia Henderson’s theory?
1.2.3 How is Henderson's theory applied in the nursing
process?
1.2.4 What is an example of a case from Henderson's theory?

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1.2.5 What are the strengths and weaknesses of Henderson's

theory?
1.2.6 How is the effected of Virginia Henderson’s theory?

1.3 Purpose of the Paper

1.3.1 To know who Virginia Henderson is.
1.3.2 To know Virginia Henderson’s theory.
1.3.3 To know the application of Henderson's theory in the
nursing process.
1.3.4 To know the strengths and weaknesses of Henderson's
theory.
1.3.5 To know the example of a case from Henderson's theory.
1.3.6 To know the effected of Virginia Henderson’s theory.
 CHAPTER II
LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Virginia Henderson Biography

Virginia Avenel Henderson, commonly known as Virginia Henderson
was born on November, 30 1897 in Kansas City, Missouri. In 1924, she enrolled
in a federally funded diploma program to help overcome the shortage of nurses
and graduated from Army School Nursing in Washington, DC. She earned a
bachelor’s degree in 1932 and a master’s degree in 1934 from Teachers College,
Columbia University, in New York City. She served on the faculty there from
1934 to 1948. Over the ensuing years, she revised the Textbook of the Principles
and Practice of Nursing and published Basic Principles of Nursing for the
International Council of Nursing (ICN). She then joined the Yale University
faculty, where she continued to work after she retired, until her death on March 9,
1996, at the age of 98.
Henderson is known around the world for creating a definition of nursing.
She also made major contributions to the development of nursing knowledge
through a study of nursing research. Throughout her lifetime, Henderson
continued to support theory development and expansion of the scientific
knowledge base in nursing, as well as education of future generations of nurse
scientists.

2.2 Nursing Theory According to Virginia Henderson

According to Henderson, nurses have a unique function, namely to assist
individuals, sick or well, in the performance of those activities that contribute to
health, or its recovery, or to a peaceful death. Which is done independently by the
individual with the ability, willingness, or knowledge. Henderson suggests this
theory is due to the beliefs and values that she believes in, namely humans,
nursing, health, and the environment. She stated that the definition of nursing
must include the principle of physiological equilibrium.
A. Humans

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Henderson sees humans as individuals who need help to achieve

health, freedom, or a peaceful death, as well as help to achieve
independence. According to Henderson, basic human needs consist of
14 components which are components of handling care. Where basic
human needs are classified into 4 categories, namely components of
biological, psychological, sociological, and
spiritual. Among them are:
a) Biological
1. Breathe normally.
2. Eat and drink adequately.
3. Eliminate body wastes.
4. Move and maintain desirable postures.
5. Sleep and rest.
6. Select suitable clothes, dress and undress.
7. Maintain normal body temperature by adjusting clothing and
modifying the environment.
8. Keep the body clean and well groomed and protects the
integument.
9. Avoid dangers in the environment and avoid injuring others.
b) Psychological
10. Communicate with others in expressing emotions, needs, fears,
or opinions.
14. Learn, discover or satisfy the curiosity that leads to normal
development and health using available health facilities.
c) Sociological
12. Work in such way that there is a sense of accomplishment.
13. Play or participate in various forms of recreation.
d) Spiritual
11. Worship according to one’s faith.
B. Nursing
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Nurses have a unique function to help individuals, both in health and

in illness. As members of the health team, nurses have an independent
function in handling care based on basic human needs (14 components
above). To carry out its functions, nurses must have biological and
social knowledge.
C. Health
In obtaining human health, it is necessary to have awareness and
knowledge in improving the quality of life for a better basic human
function for humanity because prevention is better than treating
disease. So that people can get their health Therefore, independence
and interdependence are needed. Individuals will achieve or maintain
health if they have sufficient strength, will, and knowledge.
D. Environment
There are several things that need to be considered related to
environmental aspects:
 Healthy individuals are able to control their environment, but
illness will hinder this ability.
 Nurses must be able to protect patients from mechanical injury.
 Nurses must have knowledge of health, hygiene, and
environmental safety.
 Nurses must be able to make thorough observations of a patient
correctly so that the results can help the doctor in giving
prescriptions.
 Nurses must minimize the chance of accidents or injuries due to
building construction and maintenance facilities.
 Nurses must know about social customs and religious practices to
predict threats.

E. Service to Patients
In serving patients a relationship is formed between the nurse
and the patient. According to Henderson, there are three levels of
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dependency relationship between patient and nurse from being very

dependent to regaining independence patients, including:
1. Nurse as a substitute for the patient.
When a patient is sick, he will experience a decrease in the patient's
physical strength, ability, or will. And on that situation This is where
the nurse plays a role in meeting the patient's shortage and complete it
until the time of distress is over and the time of recovery.
2. Nurses as helpers for patients.
And after going through that time then a patient will gradually gain
independence come back even though independence is relative
because humans are creatures social or can not live without other
people and the needs of every human being different. This is where
the role of the nurse as a helper in trying realizing the patient's health
helps him get back independence.
3. Nurses as partners for patients.
As partners, nurses and patients work together so that the basic needs
of patients are met. However, these basic needs are modified based on
pathological conditions and other factors, such as age, character,
emotional condition, social or cultural status, as well as physical and
intellectual strength.

2.3 Application of Henderson's Theory in the Nursing Process

The definition of nursing according to Henderson nurses is closely related
to health care applications that interact directly with patients with changing the
patient's condition from being unable or dependent to being independent by
implementing 14 components of care management (Baitynb, 2014) such as:
2.3.1 Assessment
The nurse performs an assessment based on the 14 components of needs
basic approach that can be applied which includes psychological, social
and spiritually so that nurses can recognize the needs that required by
the patient so that it can be applied to assessment and preparation.
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2.3.2 Observation
Analyzing by using the senses in the form of senses sight, hearing and
touch after that compare with knowledge about health.
2.3.3 Planning
According to Henderson, planning is the activity of preparing and
improving the arrangement of care for the healing process that has been
arranged shared between nurses and patients and documentation of the
process of how nurses help recovery from illness to recovery.
2.3.4 Implementation
The process of preparing a treatment plan that has been prepared aims
to meet the basic needs that have been prepared in the plan treatment
for recovery from illness or peaceful death.
2.3.5 Intervention
The stage where the application first looks at the principle
physiological, age, cultural background, emotional balance, abilities
individual intellectual and physical.
2.3.6 Evaluation
In the continuity of these stages between assessment, observation,
planning, implementation, intervention and the last is evaluation,
namely final notes in the form of progress in the expected criteria, in
achieving the patient's independence in carrying out daily activities
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days based on these 14 basic needs.

2.4 The Advantages and Disadvantages of Virginia Handerson's Theory

2.4.1 The Advantages of Virginia Henderson’s Theory
2.4.1.1 How to study by approaching the theory of 14 needs Virginia
Henderson's basic human nature can interpret the client's
response or patients so that an assessment can be made of the
disease experienced patient.
2.4.1.2 Can identify holistically the needs and the resulting responses
by the client or patient for use in carrying out care
comprehensive and continuous nursing based on the level of
patient needs and dependencies
2.4.1.3 As a nursing theorist Henderson has had such an impact played
a major role in influencing the image of nursing as a worldwide
profession.
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2.4.1.4 The theories that have been put forward by Henderson are not
theories or models only abstract, but a theory based on diversity
the experience he had while dedicating his love for the world
nursing.
2.4.1.5 Henderson assumes that nursing is a unique profession and
independent because nursing is a profession that can work alone
or independently with other health teams not only because of
instructions from doctor.
2.4.1.6 Henderson put forward his model and basic theory of nursing
with relate it to daily activities.
2.4.2 The Disadvantages of Virginia Henderson’s Theory
2.4.2.1 Henderson's models and theories simply base all the nurse's
duties on only focus on one party, namely on healing or
recovery physically only.
2.4.2.2 Henderson's theory reveals all the basic components of humans,
relationships between patients and nurses, a multi-step approach,
even the application of the theory only focuses on the realization
of independence patient.
2.4.2.3The basic models and theories of nursing in Virginia
Henderson's theory are only in focuses on the 14 components of
basic human needs that he reveals.
2.4.2.4 In Virgina Henderson's theory, it does not contain any medical
history such as: current medical history, past health history,
complaints patient.
2.4.2.5 The discrepancy in the previous item causes a discrepancy
inclusion of family medical history in the ability to avoid danger
and trauma to the environment in the assessment and theoretical
approach Virginia Henderson

2.5 Sample Case

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Mr. X came to the hospital with complaints of headaches in the front.

The client said he often experienced nausea and vomiting, the client had a
fever. Appetite clients also decreased. The client feels pain in the abdomen. In
addition, clients experience diarrhea. From the results of the physical
examination, it was found: The client's consciousness is full, the tongue is
visible dirty in the middle, flatulence, client RR 27x/min, HR 50x/min, pulse
98x/min, BP 90/55 mmHg, client's body temperature 40oC.
2.5.1 Assessment on Mr. X
2.5.1.1 Biodata
2.5.1.1.1 Name : Mr. X
2.5.1.1.2 Age: 25 years old
2.5.1.1.3 Gender: Male
2.5.1.1.4 Status: married
2.5.1.1.5 Chief complaint: Pain in the abdomen and headache.
2.5.2 Medical history
2.5.2.1 Current Health History
The client has pain in the abdomen. The client also has a
headache. Client often feel nauseous and vomit. The client's
appetite decreases and has a fever. The client also has diarrhea.
2.5.2.2 Past Health History
The client for 1 year has felt pain in the abdomen, but it is not
symptomatic stay. The client had suffered from stomach ulcers.
2.5.2.3 Family Health History
None of the client's family members suffer from kidney, heart,
lungs, hypertension, sugar, typhus, etc.
2.5.3 Physical Examination
2.5.3.1. KU : Fully aware
2.5.3.2. RR : 27x/min
2.5.3.3. HR : 50x/min
2.5.3.4. Pulse : 98x/min
2.5.3.5. BP : 90/55 mmHg
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2.5.3.6. Body temperature: 40

2.5.3.7. Abdomen: there is tenderness, tension, and bloating

2.5.4 Basic Human Needs

2.5.4.1 Breathe
Before illness: The client is breathing normally.
When sick: The client breathes faster because of high body
temperature.
2.5.4.2 Eat and drink
Before illness: Client eats three times a day.
When sick: The client's appetite decreases because at the time
of eating, The client feels nauseous and wants to
vomit. But still there desire to drink.
2.5.4.3 Elimination
Prior to illness: Clients defecate and urinate normally and
naturally, never vomiting, and sweating when doing activities.
When sick: Clients more often defecate but rarely
defecate. Go out cold sweat from all over the client's body.
Clients too often vomit.
2.5.4.4 Mobilization
Before illness: The client can stand and walk alone without use
any tools.
When sick: The client feels weak and weak so that he is not
strong support his own body.
2.5.4.5 Rest and Sleep
Before illness: Client sleeps and rests quietly and soundly.
When sick: The client has difficulty sleeping because he feels a
headache and bloated stomach.
2.5.4.6 Dress up
Before getting sick: The client chooses and wears the clothes
he likes alone.
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When sick: The client cannot wear his own clothes because of
his body too weak.
2.5.4.7 Body temperature
Before illness: The client's body temperature is normal 37
When sick: The client's body temperature is high reaching 40
2.5.4.8 Body Hygiene
Before getting sick: The client cleans himself (bath), and clean
the surrounding environment.
When sick: As long as the client is sick, the client cannot bathe
himself. Client do not shower, just wipe the body.
2.5.4.9 Avoiding Danger
Before illness: Clients can protect themselves from the dangers
that arise maybe get to him.
When sick: As long as the client is sick, the client is helpless
because he is too weak. Therefore, clients are cared for and
cared for by his family.
2.5.4.10 Communicate
Before illness: Clients can communicate well.
When sick: The client's communication skills are still good.
However when the client's body temperature is high, the
client is often delirious and speak incoherently.
2.5.4.11 Working
Before getting sick: Clients go to work every Monday to
Saturday at office. Departs at 7 am and returns at 5 pm.
When sick: The client's work is suspended due to the client's
condition allow. The client's job is just to lie down and sit
just.
2.5.4.12 Play
Before getting sick: Usually clients play and vacation
together with his family on his day off.
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When sick: The client's ability to play is reduced. Most

clients only just play HP in bed.
2.5.4.13 Spiritual
Prior to illness: Clients worship regularly every day.
When sick: The client worships and prays in bed while lying
down or sitting.
2.5.4.14 Study
Before getting sick: Clients often learn something new by
reading book.
When sick: Clients learn something new by asking the nurse
who cares for him or with the family who take care of it.

2.6 Influence of Virginia Henderson’s Definition of Nursing

Virginia Henderson's theory focuses on the unique function of the
nurse. This theory led to many advances in various fields. The following
areas are affected by this theory:
2.6.1 Education
As a teacher, Henderson understands that the curriculum in
nursing needs to be reformed, especially in the unique function of the
nurse, something that relates to activities related to recovering daily
life from illness, or helping to achieve a peaceful death. Henderson's
definition of nursing has opened the eyes of nursing around the world,
especially in North America. When the International Council of
Nurses translated its definition of nursing into 25 languages the impact
on nursing education was significant.
Henderson supports Nightingale's statement that the roles of
nurses and doctors are different, Henderson said, "the nursing
curriculum needs to be reorganized, especially in its primary function,
not doctors". She advocated the development of assessment skills,
independent professional practice, and the transfer of nursing schools
from hospitals to colleges and universities (Henderson, 1964).
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2.6.2 Practice
The nursing theory put forward by Virginia Henderson also had
an impact on advances in nursing practice. Virginia Henderson wrote
the book; three classics: Basic Principles of Nursing Care (1960), The
Nature of Nursing (1966), and Principles and Practice of Nursing
(1978). These books are the most widely used by nurses around the
world. This book teaches nurses a philosophy that is understandable
and coherent. Thanks to these books nurses around the world have
become more skilled in treating patients, especially nurses in North
America.
2.6.3 Research
Henderson’s definition of nursing carries significant meaning
for theory development and its concepts and propositions. As you
study other nursing theories, you will find evidence of Henderson’s
definition in many of them. While the definition may not lend itself to
the type of research expected of grand theories, Henderson was an
avid supporter of nursing research. As indicated earlier and deserves
repeating, for 19 years, she worked with Leo Simmons on the four-
volume Nursing Studies Index (1963, 1966, 1970, 1972), reading and
indexing all the related nursing literature published in English
between 1890 and 1959—all done by one nurse and a colleague. It
demonstrates her commitment to developing a body of nursing
knowledge and strengthening the ability of nurses to conduct research
and improve the practice of nursing. Sigma Theta Tau International
Library, located in Indianapolis, was named in honor of Virginia
Henderson, because of her devoted advocacy of nursing libraries
around the world. Her desire was to provide practicing nurses with
current resources wherever they were.
 CHAPTER III
CLOSING
3.1 Conclusion
Virginia Avenel Henderson, commonly known as Virginia Henderson, is a
graduate nurse from the Army School of Nursing in Washington, DC. He received
bachelor's and master's degrees in the teaching faculty. Virginia Henderson
revised the Textbook of Nursing Principles and Practice and published
Fundamental Principles of Nursing for the International Council of Nursing
(ICN).
Virginia Henderson is best known for her definition of nursing. According
to Henderson, nurses have a unique function, namely assisting individuals, sick or
well, in carrying out activities that contribute to health, or recovery, or a peaceful
death. Which is done independently by the nurse with the ability, willingness, or
knowledge. The nursing theory expressed by Virginia Henderson had a huge
impact on the world of nursing. Aspects that are affected by nursing theory are
education, practice, research.

3.2 Suggestion
It is hoped that readers will learn more about other nursing theories. After
knowing the knowledge of nursing theory according to Virginia Henderson which
has been described in this paper, it is hoped that students will be able to
understand this theory, because this theory is also very important for nurses to
carry out nursing practice.

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY
Desmawati. (2018). Teori Model Konseptual Keperawatan. (online)

Johnson M.Betty. (2015). Theory and Reasoning in Nursing (4thED). Wolters

Kluwer

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