• From the Catholic University of America, Pace University, the University of Rochester, the University of Western Ontario, and Yale University, Henderson received honorary doctoral degrees.
• The International Council of Nurses bestowed the first Christianne Reimann Prize on Henderson in 1985. She was also an honorary fellow of the Royal College of Nursing in the United Kingdom. She was also given an award that year at the Medical Library Association’s Annual Meeting for the Nursing and Allied Health Section.
• Henderson is well known for her definition of nursing, which says, “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.”

The Influence of Virginia Henderson on Nursing Theory:

Nursing Need Theory Henderson’s Need Theory places a strong emphasis on the need for a patient to be independent in order for the patient to continue making progress after they are discharged from the hospital. One of Henderson’s descriptions of the nurse’s job was as follows: substitutive, which entails assisting the patient in some way; supplemental, which entails assisting the patient in completing a task; or complementary care, which involves collaborating with the patient on a task. The goal of each of these roles is to facilitate the patient’s independence.

Based on human requirements, she divided nursing activities into fourteen parts. The following is a list of Henderson’s idea’s fourteen components:

• Breathe normally. Eat and drink adequately.
• Eat and drink Adequately
• Eliminate body wastes.
• Move and maintain desirable postures.
• Sleep and rest.
• Select suitable clothes-dress and undress.
• Maintain body temperature within normal range by adjusting clothing and modifying environment.
• Keep the body clean and well groomed and protect the integument.
• Avoid dangers in the environment and avoid injuring others.
• Communicate with others in expressing emotions, needs, fears, or opinions.
• Worship according to one’s faith.
• Work in such a way that there is a sense of accomplishment.
• Play or participate in various forms of recreation.
• Learn, discover, or satisfy the curiosity that leads to normal development and health and use the available health facilities.

A nurse’s job is to take care of patients, but she also helps them take care of themselves when they leave the hospital. Since a nurse will be assisting and supervising the patient throughout the process until the patient goes home, this will help ensure that the patient experiences fewer setbacks during their recovery from the illness or injury as well as a smoother transition into self-care. Henderson’s theory is one that rehabilitation nurses can easily apply on a daily basis, and the patients will benefit from it.