VIRGINIA HENDERSON

Biography

Virginia Avenel Henderson was born on 30^th November, 1897 in Kansas City, Missouri. She was born to Lucy Abbot Henderson and Daniel B. Henderson. She worked as nurse, as a researcher, teacher, author of many books and theorist.  She did her bachelor’s  degree in the year 1921 from Army School of Teachers College, Washington D.C.  She did her Masters degree in nursing practice (M.A) from Teachers’ College, Columbia University. She worked as a nursing instructor in Norfolk Protestant School of Nursing and served as an active member in State Nurses Association.

She cracked her famous definition for nursing practice as “Nursing is a unique function of every nurse to assure patients’ well being by rendering their nursing contribution to the world of nursing”.  She was awarded first Christianne Reimann Prize by the International Council of Nurses in the year 1985. She died on 19^th March, 1996 at the age of 98 in Connecticut hospice. She was buried in churchyard of St. Stephen’s church near her family plot, Bedford County, Virginia.

Basic needs according to Virginia Henderson

Virginia Avenel Henderson proposed 14 basic needs of nursing practice.

• Normal deep breathing
• Adequate intake of food and drink
• Body waste should be eliminated then and there
• Postures should be easily moved and maintained
• Adequacy of resting period and sleep
• Proper selection of clothing materials both dress and undress
• Adjusting body temperature according to the environmental conditions prevailing outside
• Maintaining the clean body to protect body parts from integument
• Damage to patient and environment should be removed
• Effective communication to share the emotions like anxiety, fear, physical sufferings and mental worries, needs and/ or options
• Bringing  worship of one’s faith
• Sense of accomplishment of environment should be created
• Patients’ need should be understood and satisfied to discover the quality of health and normal development by utilizing the health facilities

Questions:

• Explain the nursing concepts defined by Virginia Henderson
• Write a short note about Virginia Henderson and her contribution towards nursing.