The document provides historical context about the 1960s and summarizes the nursing theories of Virginia Henderson and Faye Abdellah that emerged during that time period. Virginia Henderson developed her Nursing Need Theory, which identified 14 components of basic human needs that nursing aims to support. Faye Abdellah proposed a patient-centered approach through her identification of 21 unique nursing problems related to meeting patient needs. Both theorists influenced modern nursing practice by emphasizing holistic, patient-centered care and a focus on addressing patient needs rather than just following physician orders.

1. CLASS PRESENTATION
ON
NURSING THEORY IN THE
1960S:
VIRGINIA HENDERSON
&
FAYE ABDELLAH
PRESENTERS:
ARELIS GONZALEZ
ALAN HIPPLEHEUSER
BRIGITTE KINDA

3. SOCIALLY
• The 60’s were characterized by major social upheaval.
• President John F. Kennedy heralded in the “New Frontier,” a package of
laws and reforms that sought to eliminate injustice and inequality.
• Kennedy shot in 1964.
• The Vietnam war escalated to full-time commitment. The nation was
divided. There was student activism, and massive antiwar demonstrations.
• President Johnson starts programs for “Great Society”: Medicare, Medicaid,
Head Start, Job Corp, Model Cities .
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:
The 1960s (History.com staff, 2010)

4. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND (CONT.)
• Nov 8, 1960 JFK wins presidency
• May 5, 1961 first U.S. sub-orbital space flight is completed
• Oct 1, 1962, 3,000 troops quell riots, allowing James Meredith, first black student, to enter the
University of Mississippi under guard by Federal marshals
• Aug 28, 1963 Civil Right march on Washington DC
• Nov 22, 1963 JFK assassination
• Jul 2, 1964 Civil Rights Act signed
• Feb 7, 1965 Martin Luther King speak at a civil right rally
• Jul 30, 1965 creation of Medicare and Medicaid
• Nov 8, 1966 Frist black Senator, Edward Brooke, is elected to congress
• Oct 2, 1967 Thurgood Marshall, elected first black Supreme
Court Justice
• Apr 4, 1968 Martin Luther King assassination
• Nov 5, 1968 Nixon Wins presidency
• Jul 20, 1969 Man on the moon, Neil Armstrong
(Infoplease, 2016)
JFK looking
inside the
Mercury Space
Capsule in
1962

5. GLOBAL BACKGROUND: 1960’S
• An U.S.U-2 reconnaissance plane is shot down by the Soviet Union and the pilot, Gary
Powers is captured in May 1, 1960.
• Cuban Missile Crisis starts a new phase of the Cold War and World War III is narrowly
averted after President Kennedy’s assassination. U.S. breaks diplomacy relation with
Cuba on Jan 3, 1961.
• France and West Germany sign treaty of cooperation ending four centuries of conflict
on Jan 22, 1963.
• Nelson Mandela sentenced to life imprisonment in Jun 11, 1964.
• Power failure in Ontario plant blacks out parts of eight states of northeast U.S. and two
provinces of southeast Canada on Nov 9, 1965.
• Supreme Court decides Miranda v. Arizona in 1966.
• Dr. Christian N. Barnard and team of South African surgeons perform world’s first
successful human heart transplant on Dec 3, 1967, but patient dies 18 days later.
• Czechoslovakia is invaded by Russian Warsaw Pact troops crushing a liberal regime on
Aug 20, 1968.
• The Internet (ARPA) goes online.
(Infoplease, 2016)

6. 1960’S: SOCIAL BACKGROUND
• 1960s began with the spirit of hope and John F. Kennedy. After he
was assassinated many felt their hopes had died with him.
• Americans openly protested unfair treatment of black citizens and
demanded full equality for women. Protesters were prevalent
against the Vietnam War.
• Assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy resulted
in riots across the country.
• While the 60’s started with middle class values including a belief
in God hard work and service to the country it was now changing.
Children were rebelling by letting your hair grow, wearing unusual
clothing, taking drugs, and having a new form of music: rock ‘n
roll. They were called “hippies.” The music group called “The
Beatles” were extremely popular and talked about sex and drugs
if not openly then subtly.
• Timothy Leary a professor from Stanford promoted taking LSD to
“tune in and drop out.”
• TV and movies were popular people watched television programs
with strong family values like “The Andy Griffith Show.”
• The women’s liberation movement started after a commission led
by Eleanor Roosevelt investigated the condition of women. Also a
widely popular book called the famine and mystique helped
change the view of women in society.

7.  Fight for civil rights: 1964 Civil Rights Act, Voting Rights Act, 1963 Equal Pay Act
 Hippies grew long hair, practiced “free love”, moved to communes
 Cannabis smoking, psychedelics and drugs became more commonplace.
 Women’s Movement pushes for equality
 Latinos fight for change
 Native American struggle for equality
 African-Americans lead the Civil Rights Movement
 Rebellious youth embrace counterculture
 Counterculture impacts fashion, fine arts, and social attitudes

8. 1960’S: CULTURAL BACKGROUND:
A REVOLUTION
The Civil Rights Movement
extended the rights of full
citizenship to individuals
regardless of race, sex, or creed.
Martin Luther King assassinated.
Young people began embracing
the values of peace, love, &
freedom.
Popular music
Summer Love
Woodstock Festival
Psychedelic Drugs
(History.com staff, 2010)

9. ECONOMIC BACKGROUND
• The 1960s were characterized by one household wage earner, a large middle class,
the ability to own a house and a car and enjoy ever-increasing luxuries.
• Minimum wage increases from $1.25 to $1.60 by Feb 1968
• New house $12,700 in 1960 and $15,500 by 1969
• New car 2,600 in 1960 and 3,270 by 1969
• Gallon of gas 25 cents in 1960 and 1969
• Apple 49 cents for 3 pounds
• Bananas 19 cents for 2 pound
• U.S. producer price index in 1965 is 3.5%
• Fed found rate fell to 1.5% on Jan 19, 1966, but hit 6.13% on Sep 9
• Unemployment 3,852,000 or about 7%.
• National debt 286.3 Billion
• Life expectancy for males 66.6 years, females 73.1 years
(Trader’s Edge LLC, 2001).

10. Nursing in the
1960s

11. VIRGINIA HENDERSON
NURSING NEED THEORY
BACKGROUND
• Henderson was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on November
30, 1897
• Family relocated to Virginia in 1901
• She received a diploma in nursing from the Army School of
Nursing at Walter Reed Hospital in 1921
• She earned her Bachelor’s degree in 1932 and Master’s degree
in 1934
• Well-known nursing educator and a prolific author
(American Nurses Association, 2016)
(McEwen & Wills, 2014)

12. VIRGINIA HENDERSON
THEORY
• One of her main topics is the unique functions of nurses
• All of her materials provide a focus for client care via 14 basic
needs
• She defined the patient as someone who needs nursing care but
did not limit nursing to illness care
• She did not define environment, but maintaining a supportive
environment is one of the elements of her 14 activities.
• Health was not explicitly defined, but it is taken to mean balance
in all realms of human life
(McEwen & Wills, 2014)

13. VIRGINIA HENDERSON’S
14 COMPONENTS OF NEED
THEORY

14. Faye Abdellah
Patient-Centered Approach

15. FAYE ABDELLAH
BACKGROUND
She was born on March 13, 1919, New York City
Years later, on May 6, 1937, the German hydrogen-fueled airship
Hindenburg exploded over Lakehurst
Abdellah and her brother witnessed the explosion, destruction and the fire
subsequent to the ignited hydrogen that killed many people. That incident
became the turning point in Abdellah’s life. It was that time when she
realized that she would never again be powerless to assist when people were
in dire need for assistance. It was at that moment she vowed that she would
learn nursing and become a professional nurse
Received her bachelor’s degree in nursing, master’s degree, and doctorate
from Columbia University
She served as the Chief Nurse Officer and Deputy U.S. Surgeon General,
U.S. Public Health Service before retiring in 1993 with the rank of Rear
Admiral
(Wayne, 2014)

16. FAYE ABDELLAH: THEORY
The patient-centered approach, develops 21 unique
nursing problems related to human needs
She made a name in the nursing profession with the
formulation of her 21 Nursing Problems Theory
Promoted the use of a problem-solving approach to
practice rather than merely following physician orders
Responsible for changing the focus of nursing theory
from a disease-centered to a patient-centered approach
Moved nursing practice beyond the patient to include
care of families and the elderly
The language of her framework is readable and clear

19. NURSING THEORISTS’ IMPACT ON
TODAY’S NURSING PRACTICE
The Feminist Movement of the 1960s did much to bring women professions on
an equal footing with men, and clarifying the roles of women in society.
Virginia Henderson’s theory emphasized the basic human needs and how nurses
can assist in meeting those needs. She stated that the nurse had the responsibility
to assess the needs of the patient, to help him or her meet health needs, and
provide an environment in which the patient can perform activity unaided;
encouraging nurses to use critical thinking. The 14 Components of Need Theory
show a holistic approach to nursing that covers the physiological, psychological,
spiritual and social needs of patients.
(Wayne, 2014)
 Faye Abdellah’s theory became among the first in her role as an educator to
focus on theory and research, and encouraged nurses to use research as a basis for
nursing practice. She established a foundation for nursing research as a science.
Abdellah is well known for her development of the “Twenty-One Nursing
Problems Theory” that has interrelated the concepts of health, nursing problems,
and problem-solving. Her theory has had a major impact on today’s nursing
practice.
(Vera, 2014)

20. HOW CAN NURSES APPLY THESE
THEORIES IN CLINICAL PRACTICE?
Using research and evidence-based practice empowers the nurse
with the knowledge and skill to perform effective, safe, and efficient
client care.
Nurses can apply these theories to clinical decision-making by
using models, frameworks, education, and research.
Nurses can use the theoretical frameworks as checklists or as
personal goals to insure care is given out in a consistent and effective
was every day the nurse is at work.
Florczak, Poradzisz, and Hampson (2012) recognize a distinct
advantage in understanding theories because they help explain how
care of a given patient in clinical practice contribute to the larger
system including family, community, and the world nation.

21. SUMMARY
The 1960s saw sweeping social change, assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Martin
Luther King, escalation of the Vietnam War, and the additions of Medicare and Medicaid to
benefit society. The civil rights movement took off rights for women and minorities
improved, with the sexual revolution and new consumption of drugs in America; hippies
helped shape history.
Globally, America led the world economically. However, World War III was narrowly
averted with the Cuban missile crisis, and the Cold War continued. America continued to
have an improving standard of living.
Virginia Henderson’s theory is from the 1960s and focused on the unique functions of
nursing via 14 basic needs. She believed in balance in all realms of human life. Faye
Abdellah was also a 1960s theorist and promoted the patient-centered approach developing
21 unique nursing problems related to human needs. She touted a problem-solving approach
to practice rather than merely following physician orders.
Their impact on today’s nursing practice includes a practical approach with the 14
components from Henderson and a focus on theory and research from Abdellah who
established the foundation for nursing research as a science.
Nurses can apply these concepts in clinical practice by focusing on research and evidence-
based practices along with applying the theories to clinical decision-making by using
models frameworks education and research. Understanding how these models relate to
society is also helpful for the nurses in decision-making.

22. REFERENCES
American Nurses Association. (2016). Virginia A. Henderson (1897-1996) 1996 Inductee.
Retrieved from http://www.nursingworld.org/VirginiaHendeson
Anderson, A. (2015, October 15). The First 50 Years of NPs: An Illustrated Timeline Shows
Triumphs, Continuing Practice Barriers. Retrieved February 22, 2016, from
http://ajnoffthecharts.com/category/nursing/nurse-practitioners
Florczak, K., Poradzisz, M., & Hampson, S. (2012). Nursing in a complex world: A case for grand
theory. Nursing Science Quarterly, 25(4). http://dx:doi:10.1177/0894318412457069
History.com staff (2010). The 1960s. Retrieved from http://www.history.com/topics/1960s
Infoplease. (2016). 1960-1969 World History. Retrieved from
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0005251.html
Infoplease. (2016). 1960 – 1969 World History. Retrieved February 21, 2016, from
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0005251.html

23. REFERENCES (CONT.)
McEwen, M., & Wills, E. M. (2014). Theoretical basis for nursing. Philadelphia: Wolters
Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Shmoop Editorial Team. (2008). The 1960s Timeline of Important Dates. Retrieved
February 20, 2016, from http://www.shmoop.com/1960s/timeline.html
Timeline, 1960-1969. (2015). America's Best History U.S. Retrieved February 22, 2016,
from http://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1960.html
Trader’s Edge LLC, (2001). 1960s Flashback-Economy / Prices. Retrieved February 20,
2016, from http://www.1960sflashback.com/1960/economy.asp
Trader’s Edge LLC, (2001). 1960s News, Events, Popular Culture and Prices. Retrieved
February 20, 2016, from http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/1960s.html

24. REFERENCES (CONT.)
University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing (2016). American Nursing: An Introduction to
the Past. Retrieved February 20, 2016, from
http://www.nursing.upenn.edu/nhhc/Pages/timeline_1960-1989.aspx?slider1=1
Watson, J. (2012). American History: Social Revolution in the 1960s. Retrieved from
http://learningenglish.voanews.com/content/american-history-
1960s-social-revolution/n/1403601.html
Wayne, G. (2014). Faye G. Abdellah-Pioneer of 21 Nursing Problems
Retrieved from: http://nurselabs.com/fave-g-abdellah/
Vera, M. (2014). Virginia Henderson’s Nursing Need Theory
Retrieved from: http://nurseslabs.com/virginia-hendersons-need-theory