Nursing Theories: Nightingale, Henderson, and more

• Nursing is defined as "the act of utilizing the environment of the patient to assist him in his recovery", according to Florence Nightingale's environmental theory.
• Virginia Henderson defined nursing as "assisting the individual, sick or well, in the performance of those activities contributing to health or its recovery (or to peaceful death)" based on 14 basic needs.
• Martha Rogers describes nursing as "a humanistic science dedicated to compassionate concern with maintaining and promoting health and preventing illness and rehabilitating the sick and disabled" in her Science of Unitary Human Beings.
• Sister Callista Roy defined nursing as "A theoretical system of knowledge that prescribes a process of analysis and action related to care of the ill person” using the adaptation model.
• Dorothea Orem defines nursing as "Helping or assisting service to persons who are wholly or partly dependent – infants, children and adults – when they, their parents and guardians, or other adults responsible for their care are no longer able to give or supervise their care" based on self-care and self-care deficit theory.
• Betty Neuman describes nursing as "A unique profession in that it is concerned with all of the variables affecting an individual's response to stressors, which are intra-, inter-, and extra-personal in nature" using the health care system model
• Dorothy Johnson explains nursing as "An external regulatory force that acts to preserve the organization and integration of the client's behavior at an optimal level under those conditions in which the behavior constitute a threat to physical or social health or in which illness is found" in the behavioral system model.
• The ANA (American Nurses Association) defined nursing in 1973 as "Direct, goal-oriented, and adaptable to the needs of the individual, the family, and community during health and illness".
• ANA defined nursing in 1980 as "The diagnosis and treatment of human responses to actual or potential health problems".
• In 2003, the ANA defined nursing as "The protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, preventions of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communities, and populations".
• Nursing as a discipline is a unique perspective or way of viewing something.
• Nursing is a body of knowledge, practice, and system of rules that defines the boundaries in which nurses practice.
• Nursing is an evolving discipline, as well as both an art and a science
• Nursing is the creative use of knowledge in service to others
• Nursing is a body of knowledge based on scientific research and analysis.

Characteristics of Nursing:

• Nursing is caring and involves close personal contact with the recipient of care.
• Nursing includes services that take humans into account as physiological, psychological, and sociological organisms.
• Nursing promotes individual, family, community, and national health goals.
• Nursing provides personalized services for all individuals, regardless of color, creed, social or economic status.
• Nursing involves ethical, legal, and political issues in health care delivery.

Recipients of Nursing:

• A consumer is an individual, a group of people, or a community that uses a service or commodity.
• A patient is a person who is waiting for or undergoing medical treatment and care.
• A client is a person who engages the advice or services of another qualified to provide this service.

Scope of Nursing:

• Promoting health and wellness engages in activities and behaviors that enhance quality of life and maximize personal potential.
• Preventing illness aims to maintain optimal health by preventing disease.
• Restoring health focuses on the ill client, extending from early detection of disease through client's recovery.
• Care for the dying involves comforting and caring for people of all ages.

Personal Qualities of a Nurse:

• Philosophy of Nursing consists of a statement that outlines a nurse's values, ethics, beliefs and motivation for being part of the profession, and their perspective regarding education, practice, and patient care ethics.
• Good Personality comprises individual qualities that differentiates one person from another, makes an impression on others and consists of deeper traits that comes from the heart.

Components of Good Personality:

• Personal Appearance includes posture, grooming, and choice of dress and uniform.
• Character consists of moral values and beliefs used as guides to personal behavior.
• Charity, the greatest virtue, serves as the foundation for values and the development of human character.

Attributes of Character:

• Moderation in limiting, controlling, restricting
• Motivation is enthusiasm, interest or commitment
• Resourcefulness is initiative, problem-solving skills
• Reliability consists of trustworthiness, accuracy, and correctness.
• Loyalty is devotion, attachment, trust and affection, towards others.
• Tolerance refers to the ability to endure hardship, and acceptance of different views.
• Judgment refers to discernment of "good sense".
• Honesty consists of truthfulness, honor, and integrity.

Eight Be-Attitudes of a Nurse:

• Permissiveness is loosening or tightening authority
• Limit Setting is knowing the value of influence.
• Friendliness is having warmth of manner, and being pleasant in interaction.
• Acceptance means facing what is known and meeting what is unknown.
• Firmness is showing certainty and determination.
• Sincerity means honesty and genuineness.
• Competence is the ability to do something well.
• Helpfulness is giving attention, reassurance, and protective security.

Charm

• Charm can influence the senses or the mind by some quality or attraction, or delight.

Explore key nursing theories from Florence Nightingale's environmental approach to Virginia Henderson's 14 basic needs. Understand Martha Rogers' humanistic science and Sister Callista Roy's adaptation model. Learn about Dorothea Orem's self-care deficit theory in nursing practice.