Need Theory For a Client With Osteomyelitis

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Theoretical Framework

Virginia Henderson’s Need Theory
As a patient receives treatment and is on the road to recovery, it's important that the patient is able to take care of him or herself after being released from medical care. To that end, nurses should be caring for the patient while, at the same time, be helping the patient become more independent and reach goals and milestones on the road to health. Virginia Henderson's Need Theory addresses this issue and helps nurses help patients so that they can care for themselves when they leave the healthcare facility.
Henderson defined nursing as “Assisting the individual, sick or well, in the performance of those activities contributing to health or it’s recovery (or to peaceful death) that an individual would perform unaided if he had the necessary strength, will or knowledge”.
She identified 14 basic needs as breathing normally; eating and drinking adequately; eliminating body wastes; moving and maintaining desirable position; sleeping and resting; selecting suitable clothes; maintaining body temperature within normal range; keeping the body clean and well-groomed; avoiding dangers in the environment; communicating with others; worshiping according to one’s faith; working in such a way that one feels a sense of accomplishment; playing/participating in various forms of recreation; learning, discovering or satisfying the curiosity that leads to normal development and health and using available health facilities.
The first 9 components are physiological. The tenth and fourteenth are psychological aspects of communicating and learning. The eleventh component is spiritual and moral. The twelfth and thirteenth components are sociologically oriented to occupation and recreation.
Conclusion
Henderson provides the essence of what she believes is a definition of nursing. Her work can be applied to the health of

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