Healthcare Leadership

Henderson’s Definition of Nursing

Henderson’s definition of nursing aligns to a greater extent with the nursing paradigm. Henderson believed nurses have the responsibility of helping patients with activities that are vital in improving health, ensuring recovery, and fostering peaceful death. According to Henderson, patients are individuals (persons) who require emotional, physical, and social assistance to achieve autonomy. Henderson defined the health paradigm as a person’s ability to function independently. Consequently, Henderson believed that the environment was critical in supporting patient care. Henderson believed that nursing was different from nursing. She believed that nursing focused on assisting patients in performing activities to ensure better recovery.

What I found interesting about Henderson

Henderson’s school of thought about the functions of a nurse is one of the things I found interesting. First, Henderson believes that the role of a nurse goes beyond the traditional functions. According to Henderson, one of the functions of a nurse is to help the patient carry out the regimen prescribed by the physician.  Henderson suggests that nurses should help the patients understand the treatment regimen prescribed by the physician. Second, Henderson believes that nurses should help patients have a dignified death. Henderson argues the role of the nurse should be to help the patient die in a prescribed manner.

Applicability of Henderson’s Work Today

Henderson’s work is still applicable and relevant today. Patient care has evolved due to Henderson’s insistence that nurses should be primary providers of healthcare. Today, nurses are being integrated within the primary care teams. As a result, nurses play a significant role in care delivery. According to Lukewich et al. (2022), registered nurses (RNs) are the principal and first contact points of continuing patient care within a healthcare setting. Further, nurses collaborate with other health professionals to ensure optimal care delivery. The involvement of nurses as primary caregivers has improved patient outcomes and enhanced patient satisfaction.

Initial Response to Taking Nursing Theory

My initial response to taking nursing theory is that it has immense significance in understanding how it influences nursing practice. I have established that nursing theory is critical in guiding nursing practice and inspiring nursing procedures and policies (Younas & Quennell, 2019). Through nursing theory, it is possible to ensure patients receive equal access to care. Ideally, nursing theories provide a basis for enhanced nursing care patient satisfaction and better patient outcomes.

References

Lukewich, J., Asghari, S., Marshall, E. G., Mathews, M., Swab, M., Tranmer, J., Bryant-

Lukosius, D., Martin-Misener, R., Norful, A. A., Ryan, D., & Poitras, M. E. (2022). Effectiveness of registered nurses on system outcomes in primary care: a systematic review. BMC Health Services Research, 22(1), 440. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-022-07662-7

Younas, A., & Quennell, S. (2019). Usefulness of nursing theory-guided practice: an integrative

review. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 33(3), 540–555. https://doi.org/10.1111/scs.12670