NURS 5327/NURS 5327 Virginia Hendersons Theory Evaluation..
Running head: VIRGINIA HENDERSON’S THEORY EVALUATION
1
Virginia Henderson’s Theory
Evaluation Karissa L. McKissick
University of Texas
Arlington October 24, 2018
Dr. Leigh Griffis
This study source was downloaded by 100000839495789 from CourseHero.com on 04-22-2022 07:50:22 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/34673720/Virginia-Hendersons-Theory-Evaluationdocx/
, VIRGINIA HENDERSON’S THEORY
EVALUATION 2
Virginia Henderson’s Theory Evaluation
Virginia Henderson was one of the first nursing theorists dating back to the late 1930’s.
While not having all the technology and information we have today, she utilized her personal
experiences and observations to develop the basic building blocks of modern nursing. Henderson
had no intention of developing a nursing theory. However, she used the scientific method and
nursing process to formulate her theory and concept of nursing. There are many missing pieces
and gaps throughout the Need Theory due to having no intention of developing a nursing theory.
Henderson’s theory will be evaluated in six different sections. The six sections consist of
an examining the theory with current nursing standards, evaluating the theory with nursing
interventions, testability of the theory, evidence of the theory being used today, the theory being
relevant socially and cross-culturally, and how the theory contributes to the discipline of nursing.
This will give the reader a better insight into how Virginia Henderson’s theory is congruent with
today’s nursing.
Is the theory congruent with current nursing standards?
According to Kirwan, Matthews, and Scott (2014), theorist discovered Henderson’s Need
Theory was most often used in evaluating the need for and practice of nurses. “The 14 statements
(Need Theory components) cover the whole of the practice of nursing, and her vision about the
nurse’s role in patient care (i.e., that the nurse perform for the patient activities the patient
usually performs independently until the patient can again adequately perform them)” (McEwen
& Wills, 2018, p.139). The nurse today still utilizes the fourteen components of the Need Theory
to determine if the patient can perform all basic human needs, if not a problem exists. The
fourteen components of the Need Theory are congruent with activities of daily living (ADL).
This study source was downloaded by 100000839495789 from CourseHero.com on 04-22-2022 07:50:22 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/34673720/Virginia-Hendersons-Theory-Evaluationdocx/
Running head: VIRGINIA HENDERSON’S THEORY EVALUATION
1
Virginia Henderson’s Theory
Evaluation Karissa L. McKissick
University of Texas
Arlington October 24, 2018
Dr. Leigh Griffis
This study source was downloaded by 100000839495789 from CourseHero.com on 04-22-2022 07:50:22 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/34673720/Virginia-Hendersons-Theory-Evaluationdocx/
, VIRGINIA HENDERSON’S THEORY
EVALUATION 2
Virginia Henderson’s Theory Evaluation
Virginia Henderson was one of the first nursing theorists dating back to the late 1930’s.
While not having all the technology and information we have today, she utilized her personal
experiences and observations to develop the basic building blocks of modern nursing. Henderson
had no intention of developing a nursing theory. However, she used the scientific method and
nursing process to formulate her theory and concept of nursing. There are many missing pieces
and gaps throughout the Need Theory due to having no intention of developing a nursing theory.
Henderson’s theory will be evaluated in six different sections. The six sections consist of
an examining the theory with current nursing standards, evaluating the theory with nursing
interventions, testability of the theory, evidence of the theory being used today, the theory being
relevant socially and cross-culturally, and how the theory contributes to the discipline of nursing.
This will give the reader a better insight into how Virginia Henderson’s theory is congruent with
today’s nursing.
Is the theory congruent with current nursing standards?
According to Kirwan, Matthews, and Scott (2014), theorist discovered Henderson’s Need
Theory was most often used in evaluating the need for and practice of nurses. “The 14 statements
(Need Theory components) cover the whole of the practice of nursing, and her vision about the
nurse’s role in patient care (i.e., that the nurse perform for the patient activities the patient
usually performs independently until the patient can again adequately perform them)” (McEwen
& Wills, 2018, p.139). The nurse today still utilizes the fourteen components of the Need Theory
to determine if the patient can perform all basic human needs, if not a problem exists. The
fourteen components of the Need Theory are congruent with activities of daily living (ADL).
This study source was downloaded by 100000839495789 from CourseHero.com on 04-22-2022 07:50:22 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/34673720/Virginia-Hendersons-Theory-Evaluationdocx/
