Critique of Virginia Henderson`s Nursing Theory

Critique of Virginia Henderson 's ' Nursing Theory

Nursing has been one of the oldest professions and yet as a scientific discipline it is still in the process of building knowledge and theories . One of the most important of which is coming up with a concept of nursing that would help define and standardize the profession . Many theorists have come up with conceptual models that tried to define and explain nursing , one of which is by Virginia Henderson (1966 . In this model , she stated that

The unique function of the nurse is to

assist the individual , sick or well , in performance of those activities contributing to health or its recovery (or peaceful death ) that he /she would perform unaided if he /she had the necessary strength , will or knowledge . And to do this in such a way as to help him /her gain independence as rapidly as possible

This is presents an analysis and evaluation of Henderson 's nursing theory using Fawcett`s framework of analysis and evaluation of conceptual models of nursing (2000 . In doing so , the reader would be able to assess for themselves the veracity and aptness of Henderson 's theory

Analysis

Henderson came up with a definition of nursing because of the observed differences in how nursing is defined , both by society and the nurses themselves . She felt it was necessary for nurses to have at leads a guiding principle of what to them is nursing and act accordingly to that principle . Moreover , during that time , nurses functions were not identified programs for skills training and even education varied from school to school , to countries and even in hospitals . There were also legal barriers to how nurses should carry out their duties , which made the profession 's position in healthcare ambiguous and misunderstood . The conceptual model of nursing developed by Henderson followed the humanistic approach , in which it emphasized the caring of the sick , the incapable and even the dying . It stressed more on what the nurses should do and who should they take care of and thus belongs to the reciprocal interaction world view category

The functions of nurses were to give intimate care to people who cannot function effectively on their own . It also emphasized that nurses be thought the skills and knowledge that would enable them to help their patients . The model also stressed that as soon as the patients are able nurses should be able to assist them in their recovery and if not to care for them in regaining their dignity and basic functioning . The person as defined in Henderson 's model is all encompassing it applies to the sick , the well and the dying . It may be old , young , newborn , and children , normal , abnormal , male , and female , of different races and cultures and religion . For Henderson , the person is alive , breathing needs to be loved and cared for , to be talked to and listened to

The environment of the person is described as limiting and keeps him /her from living...