The concept of nursing
30th ANNIVERSARY ISSUE
The concept of nursing*
Virginia Henderson
RN AM DLaw DSc
Research Associate Emeritus, Yale University School of Nursing, Connecticut, USA
Accepted for publication 4 November 1977
Correspondence:
Virginia Henderson,
Yale University School of Nursing,
Connecticut,
USA.
HENDERSON V. (1978)
HENDERSON V. (2006)
Journal of Advanced Nursing 3, 113–130
Journal of Advanced Nursing 53(1), 21–34
The concept of nursing
The author contends that with the acceptance of health care as a universal human right has come a variety of national, provincial, state, and local systems for providing health care. An international network of rapid communications makes peoples everywhere aware of the variety of systems and the fact that some systems other than their own show better results, as measured by, for example, the infant mortality rate, or the incidence of venereal disease. Traditional roles for doctors, nurses, health educators, social workers and others are in question.
To meet the needs of the people, health educators, physicians, social workers, nurses and all other categories of health personnel must constantly evaluate their roles and be ready to modify them for the common good and modify the programmes that prepare them for their work. While the roles of doctors, nurses and others are, necessarily, in these rapidly changing times, in a fluid state, some health workers must provide a 24-hour service that helps human beings with their essential daily activities when they lack the strength, knowledge, or will, to carry them out unaided and to work towards the development of a healthy independence. This intimite and essential service is, in the author’s opinion, the universal element in the concept of nursing. The most successful preparation of nurses will, the author argues, always include whatever gives them the broadest possible understanding of humanity and the world in which they live. It will also provide
The concept of nursing*
Virginia Henderson
RN AM DLaw DSc
Research Associate Emeritus, Yale University School of Nursing, Connecticut, USA
Accepted for publication 4 November 1977
Correspondence:
Virginia Henderson,
Yale University School of Nursing,
Connecticut,
USA.
HENDERSON V. (1978)
HENDERSON V. (2006)
Journal of Advanced Nursing 3, 113–130
Journal of Advanced Nursing 53(1), 21–34
The concept of nursing
The author contends that with the acceptance of health care as a universal human right has come a variety of national, provincial, state, and local systems for providing health care. An international network of rapid communications makes peoples everywhere aware of the variety of systems and the fact that some systems other than their own show better results, as measured by, for example, the infant mortality rate, or the incidence of venereal disease. Traditional roles for doctors, nurses, health educators, social workers and others are in question.
To meet the needs of the people, health educators, physicians, social workers, nurses and all other categories of health personnel must constantly evaluate their roles and be ready to modify them for the common good and modify the programmes that prepare them for their work. While the roles of doctors, nurses and others are, necessarily, in these rapidly changing times, in a fluid state, some health workers must provide a 24-hour service that helps human beings with their essential daily activities when they lack the strength, knowledge, or will, to carry them out unaided and to work towards the development of a healthy independence. This intimite and essential service is, in the author’s opinion, the universal element in the concept of nursing. The most successful preparation of nurses will, the author argues, always include whatever gives them the broadest possible understanding of humanity and the world in which they live. It will also provide
References: Clark J. (1997) The unique function of the nurse. International Nursing Review 44(5), 144–152. Henderson V. (1960) Basic Principles of Nursing Care. International Council of Nurses, Geneva. Henderson V.A. (1991) The Nature of Nursing: Reflections after 25 Years. National League for Nursing Press, New York. Royal College of Nursing (2003) Defining Nursing. RCN, London. Ó 2006 The Author. Journal compilation Ó 2006 Blackwell Publishing Ltd