Comparing Nursing Philosophy of Benner and Henderson
Main ideas of the theory When comparing the nursing theories of both Patricia Benner and Virginia Henderson, there are many similarities. Benner’s theory is best known as From Novice to Expert. This theory is based on skill performance, experience, education and clinical knowledge development with a focus on clinical nursing (Altman, 2007). It explains a five step level of career progression based on the clinical practice of nurses. It begins with novice and extends to expert. The levels are contingent and some may never reach the level of expert. With this research, Benner promotes the assessment of the situation in a holistic manner by the nurse and also uses the research to identify ways …show more content…
Furthermore, each situation in the clinical setting is individualized and should be treated as such by the nurse. Similar to the ideas of Benner’s theory, Henderson’s The Nursing Need Theory focuses on the development of the nurse’s expertise gained from their practice (Snowden, Donnell, & Duffy, 2010). Henderson’s theory focuses on the individualized care of the patient and focuses on fourteen components of the nurse’s role. These components to be addressed include, “assisting individuals with essential activities to maintain health, to recover, or to achieve peaceful death” (Ahtisham & Jacoline, 2015, p. 444). With these components in mind, the nurse is responsible for developing their clinical knowledge and expertise to best care for their patients. Both theories focus on providing optimal …show more content…
Benner’s theory focuses on the development of the nurse’s level of knowledge from the theoretical and practical realm. It provides a continuum with which the nurse may move based on their level of experience and knowledge base. It promotes the use of personal knowledge, reasoning and research knowledge to develop one’s level of expertise to promote positive patient outcomes (Altmann, 2007). It also focuses on the concept of the individual or the patient. It focuses on developing the concept of nursing to promote positive patient outcomes by making their experiences more individualized and individually focused. Henderson’s theory compares with its concepts of nursing and the individual. This theory places emphasis on the nursing performance and activities. It describes the concept of nursing as the role of doing for the person with the intended goal of assisting the patient to become independent and care for themselves (Ahtisham & Jacoline, 2015). Henderson in turn places focus on the individual or patient and recognizes with her theory the individualized needs of the patient. She also focuses on the nursing role as existing to provide the best possible outcomes for the patient.
Relationships between concepts Within both theories, the concepts of the nursing role and the patient are interrelated. The nursing care is developed through personal experience and knowledge obtained through practice and education.
Main ideas of the theory When comparing the nursing theories of both Patricia Benner and Virginia Henderson, there are many similarities. Benner’s theory is best known as From Novice to Expert. This theory is based on skill performance, experience, education and clinical knowledge development with a focus on clinical nursing (Altman, 2007). It explains a five step level of career progression based on the clinical practice of nurses. It begins with novice and extends to expert. The levels are contingent and some may never reach the level of expert. With this research, Benner promotes the assessment of the situation in a holistic manner by the nurse and also uses the research to identify ways …show more content…
Furthermore, each situation in the clinical setting is individualized and should be treated as such by the nurse. Similar to the ideas of Benner’s theory, Henderson’s The Nursing Need Theory focuses on the development of the nurse’s expertise gained from their practice (Snowden, Donnell, & Duffy, 2010). Henderson’s theory focuses on the individualized care of the patient and focuses on fourteen components of the nurse’s role. These components to be addressed include, “assisting individuals with essential activities to maintain health, to recover, or to achieve peaceful death” (Ahtisham & Jacoline, 2015, p. 444). With these components in mind, the nurse is responsible for developing their clinical knowledge and expertise to best care for their patients. Both theories focus on providing optimal …show more content…
Benner’s theory focuses on the development of the nurse’s level of knowledge from the theoretical and practical realm. It provides a continuum with which the nurse may move based on their level of experience and knowledge base. It promotes the use of personal knowledge, reasoning and research knowledge to develop one’s level of expertise to promote positive patient outcomes (Altmann, 2007). It also focuses on the concept of the individual or the patient. It focuses on developing the concept of nursing to promote positive patient outcomes by making their experiences more individualized and individually focused. Henderson’s theory compares with its concepts of nursing and the individual. This theory places emphasis on the nursing performance and activities. It describes the concept of nursing as the role of doing for the person with the intended goal of assisting the patient to become independent and care for themselves (Ahtisham & Jacoline, 2015). Henderson in turn places focus on the individual or patient and recognizes with her theory the individualized needs of the patient. She also focuses on the nursing role as existing to provide the best possible outcomes for the patient.
Relationships between concepts Within both theories, the concepts of the nursing role and the patient are interrelated. The nursing care is developed through personal experience and knowledge obtained through practice and education.