The 14 basic needs of patient

1. VIRGINIA HENDERSON's
NEED THEORY
An overview

2. A nurse, theorist, and author known for
her Need Theory
Born in Kansas City, Missouri, on 1897
Graduated in 1921 from the U.S. Army
School of Nursing
Henderson is also known as the "First lady
of Nursing", "The 20th century Florence
Nightingale", "Nightingale of Modern
Nursing", and "Modern-day Mother of
Nursing"
VIRGINIA HENDERSON
1897 - 1996

3. NEED THEORY
Henderson's need theory is one of the foundational models
in nursing practice. Her theory emphasizes the unique role
of nursing in helping individuals meet their basic needs to
achieve independence and maintain health.
Henderson’s theory revolves around patient-centered care
aimed at promoting self-sufficiency and independence for
the individual.

4. NEED THEORY
Henderson’s Need Theory identifies 14 basic human
needs that nurses must address in their care. These needs
cover the physical, psychological, and social aspects of
patient health, stressing that nurses play a significant role in
supporting individuals when they cannot meet these needs
on their own.

5. CORE CONCEPTS:
1. Definition of Nursing: Henderson defined nursing as the
act of assisting individuals--sick or well--in performing activities
contributing to health, recovery, ot peaceful death that they
would perform unaided if they had the strength, will, or
knowedge. The goal is to help patients gain independence as
quickly as possible or support them when they are unable to
achieve self-sufficiency.

6. CORE CONCEPTS:
2. The 14 Basic Needs: Henderson Identified 14 components
that are essential to human helth and well-being. These are
fundamental needs that individuals must meet to maintain a
healthy life, and when patients cannot fulfill these needs
independently, it is the nurse’s responsibility to assist them.

7. 14 COMPONENTS OF VIRGINIA HENDERSON
NEED THEORY
4
3
2
1 Breathe normally.
Eat and drink adequately.
4
5
Eliminate body wastes.
Move and maintain desirable postures.
Sleep and rest.
6
7
Select suitable clothes; dress and undress.
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Maintain body temperature within a normal range
by adjusting the clothing and modifying the
environment.
Keep the body clean and well groomed and protect
the intergument.
Avoid dangers in the environment and avoid
injuring others.
Communicate with others in expressing emotions,
needs, fears, or opinion.
Worship according to one's faith.
Work in such a way that there is a sense of
accomplishment.
Play and participate in various forms of
recreations.
Learn, discover, or satisfy the curiosity that leads to
normal development and health and use the available
facilities.

8. CORE CONCEPTS:
3. Nurse’s Role: In Hederson’s model, the nurse’s role is to
temporarily supplement the patient’s ability to meet these
needs. The nurse acts as a substitute when the patient is
incapacitated, a helper when the patient needs assistance, and
a partner when the patient can contribute to thier care. The
goal is to promote the patient’s independence as quickly as
possible, reducing thie reliance on healthcare providers.

9. CORE CONCEPTS:
4. Promoting Independence: Henderdon’s theory centers
on independence as the primary goal of nursing care. The idea
is that once the nurse has helped meet a patient’s immediate
needs, the patient should be empowered and educated to care
for themselves. This makes the nursing process dynamic and
focused on patient recovery and self-sufficiency.

10. CORE CONCEPTS:
5. Holistics Approach: The 14 needs cover not only physical
aspects of health but also psychological, social, and spiritual
dimensions. Henderson emphasized that these components
should be addressed together to provide hoslistic care. This
aligns with modern nursing’s emphasis on treating the patient
as a whole person.

11. APPLICATION IN NURSING PRACTICE
Henderson’s Need Theory is highly applicable across all areas
of nursing practice and healthcare settings, from acute care
hospitals to community nursing. The theory encourages nurses to
use a patient-centered approach, focusing on what the patient
can and cannot do and providing assistance in areas where they
need it most.

12. APPLICATION IN NURSING PRACTICE
Acute Care Settings: Nurses in hospitals can use Henderson’s
theory to assess patient independence and develop care plans that
promote autonomy and recovery.
Chronic Care and Rehabilitation: In managing chronic
conditions, nurses can assess where patients need help, focusing on
enhancing their ability to self-manage their conditions.

13. APPLICATION IN NURSING PRACTICE
Palliative and End-of-Life Care: Henderson’s theory is especially
relevant in situations where patients are losing independence, and
the nurse’s role shifts to helping maintain dignity and comfort.

14. SCENARIO OF THEORY APPLICATION
A nurse uses Henderson
theory to care for an elderly
patient with limited mobility,
addressing basic needs such
as safety, personal hygiene,
and nutrition to support
recovery and independence
at home.

15. CONCLUSION
Virginia Henderson’s Need Theory places the patient at the
center of nursing care, with the nurse’s role being to support and
restore indepence. By addressing the 14 basic needs, nurses can
provide holistics, patient-centered care that ensures physical,
emotional, social, and spiritual well-being. Henderson’s theory is
widely applicable and continue to influence nursing education
and practice worldwide.

16. QUESTIONS

17. QUESTIONS
1. Which of the following is NOT one of Henderson’s 14 Basic
Needs?
o a) Breathing
o b) Safety
o c) Providing medication
o d) Communication

18. QUESTIONS
2. According to Henderson’s Need Theory, what is the ultimate
goal of nursing care?
o a) Curing the patient’s disease
o b) Promoting patient independence
o c) Administering treatments prescribed by physicians
o d) Managing pain and discomfort

19. QUESTIONS
3. Henderson’s theory includes which of the following as part of
holistic patient care?
o a) Only physical needs
o b) Only spiritual needs
o c) Physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs
o d) Only the patient’s immediate medical problems

20. QUESTIONS
4. Which basic need in Henderson’s theory involves assisting the
patient with bowel and bladder function?
o a) Movement and Posture
o b) Elimination
o c) Personal Hygiene
o d) Body Temperature Regulation

21. QUESTIONS
5. In Henderson's model, the nurse's role changes depending on
the patient’s ability to meet their needs. The nurse can act as a:
o a) Helper, educator, or advocate
o b) Substitute, helper, or partner
o c) Diagnostician, healer, or manager
o d) Caregiver, technician, or supervisor

22. THANK YOU!