HENDERSON
While working on the 1955 revision of the Te x t b o o k
of the Principles and Practice of Nursing,Henderson
focused on the need to be clear about the function
of nurses. She opened chapter one with the fol-
lowing question: What is nursing and what is the
function of the nurse? (Harmer & Henderson,
1955, p. 1). Henderson believed this question was
fundamental to anyone choosing to pursue the
study and practice of nursing.
Definition of Nursing
Her often-quoted definition of nursing first ap-
peared in the fifth edition of Textbook of the
Principles and Practice of Nursing (Harmer &
Henderson, 1955, p. 4):
Nursing is primarily assisting the individual (sick or
well) in the performance of those activities contribut-
ing to health or its recovery (or to a peaceful death),
that he would perform unaided if he had the neces-
sary strength, will, or knowledge. It is likewise the
unique contribution of nursing to help people be in-
dependent of such assistance as soon as possible.
In presenting her definition of nursing,
Henderson hoped to encourage others to develop
their own working concept of nursing and nurs-
ing’s unique function in society. She believed the
definitions of the day were too general and failed to
differentiate nurses from other members of the
health team, which led to the following questions:
“What is nursing that is not also medicine, physical
therapy, social work, etc.?” and “What is the unique
function of the nurse?” (Harmer & Henderson,
1955, p. 4).
Based on Henderson’s definition, and after coin-
ing the term “basic nursing care,” Henderson iden-
tified 14 components of basic nursing care that
reflect needs pertaining to personal hygiene and
healthful living, including helping the patient carry
out the physician’s therapeutic plan (Henderson,
1960; 1966, pp. 16–17):
- 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 the
environment
8. Keep the body clean and well groomed and
protect the integument
9. Avoid dangers in the environment and avoid
injuring others - Communicate with others in expressing emo-
tions, needs, fears, or opinions - Worship according to one’s faith
- Work in such a way that there is a sense of ac-
complishment - Play or participate in various forms of recre-
ation - Learn, discover, or satisfy the curiosity that
leads to normal development and health and
use the available health facilities.
PART TWO
Applications
WIEDENBACH
“The practice of clinical nursing is goal directed,
deliberately carried out and patient centered”“The practice of clinical nursing is goal
directed, deliberately carried out and
patient centered.”(Wiedenbach, 1964, p. 23). Figure 7–1 represents a
spherical model that depicts the “experiencing indi-
vidual” as the central focus (Wiedenbach, 1964).
This model and detailed charts were later edited
and published in Clinical Nursing: A Helping Art
(Wiedenbach, 1964).
In a paper entitled “A Concept of Dynamic
Nursing” (Wiedenbach, 1962, p. 7), she described
the model as follows:
In its broadest sense, Practice of Dynamic Nursing
may be envisioned as a set of concentric circles, with
the experiencing individual in the circle at its core.
Direct service, with its three components, identifica-
tion of the individual’s experienced need for help,
ministration of help needed, and validation that the
help provided fulfilled its purpose, fills the circle adja-
cent to the core. The next circle holds the essential
concomitants of direct service: coordination, i.e.,
charting, recording, reporting, and conferring;74 SECTION II Evolution of Nursing Theory: Essential Influences