Introduction
Each nurse operates based on an individual nursing philosophy despite potentially not formulating one. Simultaneously, one’s nursing philosophy may, to a certain extent, be based on an existing evidence-based nursing theory. My philosophy is linked to making a difference in my patients’ lives and helping them achieve their health goals. The Virginia Henderson Nursing Need Theory is the framework that aligns with my aims and correlates with the nursing profession. The current paper exemplified how the philosophy of working alongside patients interconnects with the theory, highlighting that a nurse is to assist with activities that will be addressed through the patient’s independence.
Nursing Philosophy
My nursing philosophy is linked to the idea of making my patient’s life better. Specifically, I aim to use the knowledge I will require throughout my career to assist individuals with reaching their health goals so that they can achieve their fulfilled well-being. I believe nursing is more than a profession as it grants me the opportunity to help people, and, as a team, we can reach help objectives. Simultaneously, I believe patient-centered care is the most efficient way to ensure that each individual is viewed as a person, as it entails different approaches (Edgman-Levitan & Schoenbaum, 2021). This correlates with the theory that has been selected, specifically, the Virginia Henderson Nursing Need Theory. It entails that patient independence is the goal and the key objective of all nursing activities.
Nursing Theory
The Virginia Henderson Nursing Need Theory is widely applied in nursing. Specifically, researchers highlight that it is one of the most widely recognized frameworks (Lopez et al., 2020). It is centered around the idea that a nurse assists the patient with achieving independence and acting for him when independence is impaired. This implies that the 14 needs formulated by Henderson are to be partially addressed through nursing if the patient’s independence is impaired (Wallace & Jones, 2020). The needs include eating, drinking, mobile, sleeping, communicating, and learning. This nursing theory interests me the most as it can be formulated into nursing goals concerning the patient’s well-being and health journey.
My views on the nursing theory emphasize its importance as it exemplifies the importance of being a patient’s advocate as a nurse. As mentioned previously, the theory entails the vitality of assisting individuals with their physical needs. However, it also illustrates elements such as giving the patient knowledge that will be applied independently, as independence is a common goal (Aasen et al., 2021).
Hence, in my opinion, the framework suggests that the nurse’s overall goal is to give patients the tools they can apply independently as soon as they acquire the knowledge and skills to do so. The nursing theory can be made relevant in my nursing practice by being the basis of my patient goals. I can identify areas in which the patient can be fully independent, such as drinking and eating, and those that require assistance, such as providing information on how to address specific issues correlating with well-being.
Conclusion
Developing a nursing philosophy incorporating knowledge and servitude is essential in assisting patients through evidence-based practice. Additionally, a nursing model such as the Virginia Henderson Nursing Need Theory further emphasizes the importance of creating a team with the patient and moving towards the same goal: independence. In this case, the nurse becomes the source of help, knowledge, and skills individuals can incorporate into their well-being journey individually based on their abilities.
References
Aasen, E. M., Nilsen, H. K., Dahlborg, E., Helberget, L. K., & Kjelsvik, M. (2021). From open to locked doors – from dependent to independent: Patient narratives of participation in their rehabilitation processes. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 30(15–16), 2320–2330. Web.
Edgman-Levitan, S., & Schoenbaum, S. C. (2021). Patient-centered care: Achieving higher quality by designing care through the patient’s eyes. Israel Journal of Health Policy Research, 10(1). Web.
Lopez, M., Jimenez, J.-M., Fernández-Castro, M., Martin-Gil, B., Garcia, S., Cao, M.-J., Frutos-Martin, M., & Castro, M.-J. (2020). Impact of nursing methodology training sessions on completion of the Virginia Henderson Assessment record. Nursing Reports, 10(2), 106–114. Web.
Wallace, A., & Jones, M. (2020). An evaluation of Henderson’s nursing needs model and how it can be adapted for use in veterinary nursing. The Veterinary Nurse, 11(8), 340–347. Web.