Henderson Believed Nurses Have The Responsibility To Assess
Henderson Believed Nurses Have The Responsibility To Assess The Needs
Henderson believed nurses have the responsibility to assess the needs of the individual patient, help individuals meet their health needs, and provide an environment in which the individual can perform activities unaided. What is an opportunity in your nursing practice that would benefit from application of Henderson’s theory? How does this align with the ANA’s definition of nursing? Provide at least one evidenced-based research article to support this recommendation. Your initial posting should be at least 400 words in length and utilize at least one scholarly source other than the textbook.
Paper For Above instruction
The application of Virginia Henderson's Nursing Need Theory in current nursing practice presents numerous opportunities for enhancing patient care. Henderson emphasized that nurses should assist individuals in performing activities essential to health and recovery when they are unable to do so independently. One particular opportunity to apply Henderson’s theory lies in patient discharge planning, especially for elderly patients with multiple comorbidities who are transitioning from hospital to home care.
In this context, the nurse's role extends beyond administering treatments to assessing the comprehensive needs of the patient, including physical, psychological, social, and environmental factors. By utilizing Henderson’s framework, nurses can evaluate which activities the patient can perform independently and identify areas where support is necessary. For instance, an elderly patient recovering from surgery may require assistance with mobility, medication management, nutrition, and establishing a safe home environment. Applying Henderson’s theory enables nurses to create tailored discharge plans that foster independence and reduce the risk of readmission (Oosthuizen & Musekiwa, 2017).
This approach aligns with the American Nurses Association’s (ANA) definition of nursing, which states that nursing is “the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, groups, and communities” (ANA, 2015). Henderson’s emphasis on assessing and meeting the individual needs of patients directly supports this definition by advocating for personalized care that promotes health and independence. The nurse’s role as an advocate is evident in ensuring that discharge plans address all factors influencing the patient’s ability to live safely and healthily at home.
Evidence-based research supports the effectiveness of applying Henderson’s theory in discharge planning. A study by Chen et al. (2018) demonstrated that tailored discharge education and support, based on comprehensive patient assessments, significantly improved patient outcomes and reduced readmission rates. This research underscores that when nurses systematically assess patient needs and foster independence, patient satisfaction and safety improve, ultimately contributing to better health outcomes.
In conclusion, integrating Henderson’s nursing theory into discharge planning practices offers a valuable opportunity to improve patient independence and safety. This aligns with the core principles of the ANA’s definition of nursing, emphasizing holistic, patient-centered care. By leveraging comprehensive assessments rooted in Henderson’s framework, nurses can develop effective, individualized care plans that support optimal recovery and long-term health maintenance.
References
- American Nurses Association. (2015). Nursing: Scope and standards of practice (3rd ed.). ANA.
- Chen, J., Nightingale, L., & Cosme, D. (2018). Impact of individualized discharge planning on patient outcomes and readmission rates. Journal of Nursing Care Quality, 33(2), 123-130.
- Oosthuizen, J., & Musekiwa, A. (2017). Application of Henderson's nursing model in discharge planning: A systematic review. BMC Nursing, 16(1), 1-8.