Virginia Henderson is one of the most recognized pioneer nurses who developed a nursing theory that, until now, serves as one of the foundations of the nursing practice. It claims that nurses are not only responsible for patients but should also help them to develop self-determination and gain independence as rapidly as possible (Gonzalo, 2019). This is especially relevant when providing care to teenage mothers who need to prepare for motherhood and learn to take care of themselves and their children.
Henderson’s theory defines the roles of the nurse as substitutive. It claims that nurses should assist patients in the performance of daily activities but do it in such a way as to help them gain independence as rapidly as possible (Gonzalo, 2019). The theory arranges nursing tasks into 14 components that cover the physiological, psychological, spiritual, and social needs of an individual (Gonzalo, 2019). For teenage mothers, all 14 components seem relevant and need to be included in the nursing plan. The physiological needs include breathing normally, eating and drinking adequately, eliminating body waste, maintaining desirable postures, sleeping and resting, maintaining body temperature within the normal range, and keeping the body clean (Gonzalo, 2019). Future mothers need to learn how to handle their physiological needs properly as their body changes during pregnancy and after birth, and nurses should provide them with relevant information and support.
The psychological needs include avoiding dangers, working in such a way that there is a sense of accomplishment, and participating in various forms of recreation. Teenage mothers need to learn what to avoid and how to cope with the challenges of having a child, and nurses can help them reduce anxiety and provide basic information on how to deal with stress. The primary social need is communication with other people, which can also be addressed in the hospital environment through organizing courses for young mothers where they can share their experiences and make new friends. The spiritual needs are realized through worship according to faith, and, dependent on the hospital’s position on the subject, they can also be adequately addressed.
Overall, Henderson’s theory can serve as a basis for the development of a comprehensive nursing plan for teenage mothers. While addressing their basic needs and helping them to cope with challenges, nurses should prepare them for childbirth and teach them how to take care of themselves and the baby. A supportive environment should be established and maintained to ensure the good health of patients and enhance their self-determination.
A woman arrives in the emergency department after taking 25 diazepam tablets in a supposed suicide attempt. She is 30 years old, has three children between 14 years and 18 months old, is unemployed, has no high school education, and is in the process of her second divorce. To provide the patient with relevant nursing care, two main strategies can be implemented: Ida Jean Orlando’s Deliberative Nursing Process and Betty Neuman’s Health Care Systems Model.
Ida Jean Orlando’s Deliberative Nursing Process is a system that is set in motion by the patient’s behavior. It claims that an individual’s behavior may represent a cry for help, and the nurse should react to act accordingly (Nursing theorists, n.d.). Nurses’ actions should be deliberate rather than automatic, and their meaning and relevance should be acknowledged (Nursing theorists, n.d.). In the discussed case, the patient tried to commit suicide, and it definitely can be regarded as a cry for help. According to the Deliberative Nursing Process, the nurses should not only treat physical symptoms but also address the patient’s personal needs. An individual approach should be taken to establish communication with the patient and provide relevant psychological and social support to improve her overall wellbeing.
Betty Neuman’s Health Care Systems Model focuses on reducing the amount of stress that a patient is exposed to. It regards a person as a complete system made of interrelated parts that maintain a balance between the internal and external environment by adjusting to stress (Nursing theorists, n.d.). It claims that nurses should primarily be concerned with the effects of stress on health and direct their efforts to help the patient establish flexible lines of resistance, reduce external stressors, and develop internal defense mechanisms (Nursing theorists, n.d.). The patient in the case study is experiencing a significant amount of stress that she cannot cope with, and one of the primary nurse’s responsibilities after dealing with physical symptoms should be psychological support. Guidance and therapy should be provided to help her handle stress and develop coping mechanisms. The nursing plan should also include social support that can help to reduce external stress factors.
Overall, the nursing plan should be developed to first address the physical needs of the patient and then deal with her psychological, mental, and social concerns. The desired aim of the plan should be improving the patient’s overall wellbeing, reducing the amount of stress, helping her develop stress coping mechanisms, and preventing further suicide attempts (Martin, 2019). Nurses should act deliberately rather than automatically and provide the patient with psychological and emotional support.
References
Gonzalo, A. (2019). Virginia Henderson: Nursing Need Theory. Nurseslabs. Web.
Martin, P. (2019). 3 suicide behaviors nursing care plans. Nurselabs. Web.
Nursing theorists. (n.d.). Current Nursing. Web.