Nursing Leadership: Applying Henderson's Need Theory in Quality and Risk Management

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Analysis, Critique and Application of Theory
Applying the principles of Henderson’s need theory to the leadership concentration, specifically the quality and risk management roles, occurs routinely however the relationship to the need theory is not often mentioned. When reviewing cases for quality and risk management, one can typically reduce the issue to failure in communication or in meeting a patient’s needs which are part of the fourteen basic human needs of Henderson’s need theory. When one fails to meet those needs, one will typically find an issue that is reportable via a variance, complaint, grievance, or to a governing and accrediting body. The goal as nurse leaders is to provide care that is consistent with the needs of the patient …show more content…

Leaders within organizations must ensure staff provide evidence-based knowledge to the patients and families in order for them to function independently at home. Waller-Wise (2013) reported on the application of Henderson’s principles to help well persons maintain their health during pregnancy. During childbirth classes the pregnant mother and her family are educated on the importance of eating and drinking to ensure adequate nutrition of the mother and baby (Waller-Wise, 2013). These childbirth classes afford the soon to be parents opportunities to ask questions and make choices regarding the birthing process (Waller-Wise, …show more content…

This birthing plan is often documented in the patient’s medical record which aids the health care staff during the birthing event. Documentation and discussion of these events is often necessary to ensure all the needs of the family are met. Too often all the potential needs are not discussed and the opportunity to meet the needs of the new family is missed. These missed opportunities can result in emotional and religious conflicts within the family unit and toward the health care staff. For the nurse leader these missed opportunities in care could result in unfavorable patient satisfaction scores and reports within and outside the institution which necessitates follow up. The most important missed opportunity is how this affects the family unit itself. Depending on the missed opportunity the family unit may be affected for years based on questions not asked or decisions made with poor information. Some cultures must bury the placenta after birth and if this was not discussed and the placenta discarded the religious implications could be devastating for this family. Application of Henderson’s need theory guides the nurse in the educational plan for the patient-family unit to ensure all basic needs are covered and questions related to those needs are posed in advanced of the birthing

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