The healthcare system is rapidly changing with the appearance of new research findings and theories. Modern practices in nursing have also shifted from the previous century, although the most influential ideas have remained as a foundation of nursing practice. One such theory that underlies clinical practice in both the Eastern and Western worlds is Virginia Henderson’s need theory. This essay will discuss the need theory’s clinical and educational application and the purpose of practice application and will suggest a research topic based on Henderson’s theory.
The clinical application of Henderson’s theory is in the practical use of the idea in medical facilities. Many clinics apply the theory when treating patients (Cardoso et al., 2019). Mainly nurses use the approach to emphasize the importance of patients’ independence during and after hospital treatment. The need theory suggests that patients must be able to care for themselves even after leaving the hospital (Cardoso et al., 2019). Therefore, nurses monitor fourteen aspects of the theory and create an environment where patients can heal and leave the hospital with a capability for self-treatment.
The need theory of Virginia Henderson teaches students to be empathetic yet practical nurses. The view is included in the curriculum of many different universities because its approach creates practical nurses. Students need to understand the foundation of the theory that states, “nursing are characterized by the care provided to sick or healthy individuals, in the performance of activities that contribute to health, their recovery, or to a peaceful death that they would perform unaided if they had the necessary strength, will, or knowledge” (Cardoso et al., 2019, p. 2). Understanding the theory’s core enables students to become nurses who not only possess knowledge but can also perform practical actions in patient care. Therefore, teaching Henderson’s theory is crucial and primarily supports the nursing practice.
The purpose of practice application in nursing is to help medical workers analyze and evaluate their treatment more effectively. Nursing theories have been applied in western and eastern countries due to their effectiveness when nurses require a health assessment tool. They have also helped lead research in the medical field, which has been contributing to significant findings. Since practice application in nursing is beneficial, it has served its purpose in healthcare systems across the globe. The research conducted by Younas and Quennell has also supported the idea that practice application should continue contributing to the evaluation of NTGP and that its purpose lies in the mentioned assessment (Younas & Quennell, 2019). The concept of interest might also be operationally defined when conducting nursing practice applications. Since nursing theories often require direct communication with patients, it is possible to determine the concept of interest when providing care to the patient. Since the operational definition needs a set of procedures to measure it, the idea of interest can also be operationally defined.
Henderson’s theory’s theoretical and operational definitions as a concept of interest can be influential research. The theoretical description gives a fundamental understanding of the concept and allows one to comprehend the knowledge behind the theory. This is critical when writing a research paper because it helps to find suitable materials and provides a piece of background knowledge to start research. An operational definition is essential when putting knowledge into analysis and practice. For instance, without being apprised of the operational definition, the researcher may not be able to choose a research method and conduct it. Therefore, it is crucial for me to know the theoretical and operational definitions of my concept of interest since starting and running the research might not be possible without them.
The potential research question based on Henderson’s need theory can be to observe the effectiveness of nursing practice with blinded people. Virginia Henderson’s need theory suggests that nurses perform as a replacement for a patient’s sick or disabled body part. However, the important note is to make the patient independent of the nurse as soon as possible. It would be interesting to look at how effectively nurses have been providing help to blind people and how quickly they enabled patients to be independent of their service. From the perspective of Henderson’s theory, the hypothesis can be that blinded people were able to leave the hospital and take care of themselves. Nonetheless, the research might present a different conclusion which is why this research topic is engaging. It would be essential to observe fourteen factors of the need theory of blinded patients to find whether nursing practice helps the patients in diagnosis or life-saving situations or not. Therefore, I suggest the research question ‘How effective is nursing practice for blinded patients by Henderson’s need theory?’.
To conclude, Virginia Henderson’s need theory enables nurses in hospitals to create an environment to treat patients and make them independent of nursing help. The theory is also applicable at universities because including the theory in the curriculum will allow students to become influential professionals. The purpose of practice application is to help nurses effectively evaluate their medical activities. The theoretical and operational definitions of the Henderson theory as a concept of interest are essential to produce high-quality research. The potential research question suggested in the essay is to analyze the nursing treatment of blind people from Henderson’s need theory perspective.
References List
Cardoso et al., (2019). Death and dying: contributions to a practice based on nursing theoretical frameworks. Revista gaucha de enfermagem, 40.
Younas, A., & Quennell, S. (2019). The usefulness of nursing theory‐guided practice: an integrative review. Scandinavian journal of caring sciences, 33(3), pp. 540-555.