Virginia Henderson
Encyclopedia
Virginia Henderson, FRCN
(November 30, 1897-March 19, 1996) was a nurse, researcher
, theorist
and author.
She was born in Kansas City, Missouri
, the fifth of eight children of Lucy Abbot Henderson and Daniel B. Henderson. She graduated from the Army School of Nursing, Washington, D.C.
in 1921. She graduated from Teachers College, Columbia University
with a M.A.
degree in nursing education.
Henderson is famous for a definition of nursing
: "The unique function of the nurse is to assist the individual, sick or well, in the performance of those activities contributing to health or its recovery (or to peaceful death) that he would perform unaided if he had the necessary strength, will or knowledge".
presented her with the first Christianne Reimann Prize in June 1985, aged 87. She was also an honorary fellow of the UK's Royal College of Nursing
(FRCN).
. She is survived by her niece, her great-niece Catherine Burdge, and her great-great niece Lucy Burdge.
Royal College of Nursing
The Royal College of Nursing is a union membership organisation with over 395,000 members in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1916, receiving its Royal Charter in 1928, Queen Elizabeth II is the patron...
(November 30, 1897-March 19, 1996) was a nurse, researcher
Nursing research
Nursing research is the term used to describe the evidence used to support nursing practice. Nursing, as an evidence based area of practice, has been developing since the time of Florence Nightingale to the present day, where many nurses now work as researchers based in universities as well as in...
, theorist
Nursing theory
Nursing theory is the term given to the body of knowledge that is used to define or explain various aspects of the profession of nursing.-Grand nursing theories:...
and author.
She was born in Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, the fifth of eight children of Lucy Abbot Henderson and Daniel B. Henderson. She graduated from the Army School of Nursing, Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
in 1921. She graduated from Teachers College, Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
with a M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree in nursing education.
Henderson is famous for a definition of nursing
Nursing
Nursing is a healthcare profession focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life from conception to death....
: "The unique function of the nurse is to assist the individual, sick or well, in the performance of those activities contributing to health or its recovery (or to peaceful death) that he would perform unaided if he had the necessary strength, will or knowledge".
Honors
The International Council of NursesInternational Council of Nurses
The International Council of Nurses is a federation of more than 130 national nurses associations. It was founded in 1899 and was the first international organization for health care professionals...
presented her with the first Christianne Reimann Prize in June 1985, aged 87. She was also an honorary fellow of the UK's Royal College of Nursing
Royal College of Nursing
The Royal College of Nursing is a union membership organisation with over 395,000 members in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1916, receiving its Royal Charter in 1928, Queen Elizabeth II is the patron...
(FRCN).
Death
She died in 1996 at the Connecticut Hospice, aged 98, and was interred in her family's plot of the churchyard of St. Stephen's Church, Forest, Bedford County, VirginiaBedford County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 60,371 people, 23,838 households, and 18,164 families residing in the county. The population density was 80 people per square mile . There were 26,841 housing units at an average density of 36 per square mile...
. She is survived by her niece, her great-niece Catherine Burdge, and her great-great niece Lucy Burdge.
External links
- Biography
- Virginia Henderson International Nursing Library
- http://www.ulib.iupui.edu/special/gencoll/coll/mss051.htmlSigma Theta TauSigma Theta TauThe Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International exists to improve the health of people by increasing the scientific base of nursing research...
International Archives] - Virginia Henderson in the Virginia Nursing Hall of Fame
- Virginia Henderson in The NTPR Project