Professional Documents
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Basic Human Need
Basic Human Need
Jean Minshull SRN SCM RCNT DN(Lon) DANS(Man) RNT Senior Tutor, Curriculum
Development, Kathryn Ross SRN OND SCM RCNT RNT Nurse Tutor, Curriculum Development
and Janet Turner SRN SCM RCNT DN(Lon) DANS(Man) RNT MSc(Man) Joint Appointee,
South Munchester School of Nursing, Munchester
643
644 J . Minshull et a1
who state that the nursing model selected by 6 Description of the basic components
the school provides the conceptual basis. included in the model.
needed unity, co-ordination and integration 7 Relationships of basic concepts of the
for curriculum development. person, environment, health and nursing.
In relation to establishing the philosophy, 14 A nursing model which met all the stated
structured group discussions took place within criteria was not found. This was especially so in
the district to involve a one in ten representative relation to the stated requirement to place equal
sample of nursing staff (including both trained emphasis on all aspects of human need. Some
staff and students) in determining a statement of commonly used models tend to concentrate on
beliefs and values about nursing and related the physical aspects of patient care, e.g.
issues. In total 320 staff participated in this pro- Henderson (1966) directs 57% of the com-
cess and the result was the formulation of the ponents of basic nursing care towards physical
South Manchester Philosophy of Nursing aspects, whilst Roper et al. (1980) devote 58% of
(South Manchester School of Nursing 1983). nursing activities to these aspects. In view of this
The authors then participated with other edu- lack of major emphasis on other than physical
cational staff within the school of nursing in the aspects of nursing care the authors decided to
process of nursing model selection. The authors create a new model of nursing which fulfilled the
believe that for nursing models to be effective in stated criteria, and which could be utilized both
influencing the quality of patient care delivery as a basis for curriculum development and also
they must be selected according to specifically for translation into nursing practice. The Human
stated criteria. The authors identified the Needs Model of Nursing was the result of this
following five criteria. process.
acknowledged that the hierarchy of human psychological, spiritual and social needs. He is
needs was less clearly able to be defined than he viewed as unique, of intrinsic value, and the
had previously thought.) An essential element centre of his own reality (Rogers 1980). The
of the Human Needs Model of Nursing is that it authors have accepted five categories of human
places equal emphasis upon each level of human need which have been adapted from Maslows
need. Further, the hierarchy is important in the (1954) original work. Each of the categories
assessment of the individual in that physical defined within the model is not intended to be
needs in the patient which are unmet may be life definitive but rather a descriptive example.
threatening, as may unmet needs in the category Unmet needs in the individual can lead to prob-
of safety and security. lems, and these problems are viewed as either
There have been criticisms of the use of patient problems, because the individual is
Maslows ideas in nursing models (Webb 1984) aware of the unmet need, or nursing problems
but this is largely due to either attempts by nurses because the individual is unaware of the unmet
to apply Maslows motivational theory directly need.
to nursing care, or to its over-simplification by
authors such as Roper et al. (1983). Other criti-
cisms are related to the utilization of psychologi-
cal theories in the creation of nursing models, Category 1: physical needs
but as McGlynn (1983) points out to construct
models of nursing which are acceptable, This is the first category of human need and
theories must be generated or borrowed from consists of those things which the individual
life sciences appropriate to the needs of patient requires to maintain physiological homeostasis,
and nursing care. e.g. nutrition, elimination, heat and cold,
An important factor which also influenced the mobility, sleep and rest, light and darkness,
authors in the decision to utilize an adaption of quietness and noise, hygiene, oxygen and car-
Maslows theory, was the experience of one of the bon dioxide, sensory stimulation. Unmet needs
authors in applying this concept to direct indi- in this category result in patient problems which
vidualized patient care within the clinical area could become immediately life threatening if
where it proved extremely valuable (Minshull ignored, e.g. airway obstruction, as well as such
1978). things as hunger, dehydration, constipation,
The individual within this model is viewed etc. Sensory needs are also included in this cate-
holistically, having interdependent physical, gory which, although not vital to physiological
646 J . Minshull et al.
homeostasis, cannot be ignored if the individual status, fame and glory, dominance, recognition.
is to be viewed holistically. attention, importance, dignity, or appreciation.
state. On the illness side of the continuum the only support the individual if she has ascer-
triangle is inverted and thus is unstable, requir- tained the meaning of the situation and experi-
ing the support of the nurse in the appropriate ences for that individual. It is remembered that
category in order to become relatively stable. an unmet need becomes a problem, one which
Within this model the authors accept Kasle & may not be perceived by the individual; perhaps
Cobbs (1966) definitions of wellness and illness, due to a lack of specialist knowledge, the very
which are: wellness -when the individual per- nature of the illness, or because the individual is
ceives himself or herself to be healthy for the so ill that he is unaware of many needs at differ-
purpose of maintaining health and preventing ing levels. The unique function of the nurse is to
illness; illness -an activity undertaken by a identify individual problems related to human
person who believes himself or herself to be ill needs in order to plan and deliver nursing care
for the purpose of diagnosing a condition and which will provide support in those categories
discovering a cure. of need where the patient is unable to remain
The individual (represented by the stable or independent. The accuracy of the assessments
unstable triangle) can conceptually be placed made and the effectiveness of the care subse-
anywhere along the continuum depending upon quently planned must be evaluated.
their health status. It is also postulated by the
authors that even within wellness individuals can
The nurses role in wellness
become relatively dependent on nursing support
whilst remaining well, e.g. a blind diabetic The support provided by a nurse when a person
person in the community requiring direct support is in a state of wellness may be viewed as being
from the nurse. Whilst on the illness side of the predominantly indirect in nature, that is in the
continuum, an individual may remain indepen- promotion of health and the prevention of ill-
dent whilst also being removed from a state of ness. These considerations underpin the first
wellness, e.g. the individual being admitted for two competenciesrequired of a registered general
planned surgery who can be seen to be ill but nurse (United Kingdom Central Council 1983),
independent. namely to:
usually female, in a starched cap, engaged in the tool of assessment, individual needs being
performance of physical care. This is indeed a assessed in a hierarchical manner. It is acknowl-
large component of the supportive role of the edged within this model that the assessment of
nurse for the individual who is ill. In illness, it is Category 1 (physical) and Category 2 (safety
anticipated that the individual will have needs and security) must be carried out primarily as
he cannot completely meet himself, but often some unmet human needs in these two categor-
there is over-emphasis on the direct aspects of ies could be life threatening. Providing the nurse
care in supporting physical needs. is satisfied through the initial assessment that
The indirect aspects should share equal the patient is removed from immediate danger,
importance in supporting the individual at the each category of human need can then be
varying stages towards independence; in pro- explored with equivalent importance which, the
viding the environment in which the individual, authors suggest, permits a clear framework for
and those important to him, can explore the nurses of all levels to assess human needs in
implications of the altered health status; and the more intangible dimensions, i.e. personal/
providing support in the process of adaptation psychological.
required by all concerned, either in the short- Once the assessment is completed actual or
term, for example during an acute illness, or potential patient problems are then identified
longer-term as chronic illness. and put in order of priority. Problems at the
higher levels may well be more important for
Assessing individual needs the individual than those at lower levels and the
operational aspects of this model of nursing
Assessment is the foundation of the nursing facilitate the identification of such aspects. Not
process; unless the individuals needs for nurs- all individuals will have problems at all levels,
ing are deliberately sought, care can never be but all patients will have some problems in some
fully effective. Problems have arisen because levels.
nurses frequently have not had an overt model
of nursing from which to develop a framework
for assessment; therefore information is sought Nursing intervention
which may or may not be helpful in deciding the
nurses or patienticlients goals of care. An Nurses are beginning to see their patients as
example may be seen in the plethora of exten- partners in care; the passive patient role is now
sive nursing history forms which were printed at considered outdated and patients may need
the introduction of the nursing process, a educating in this change. As Gittins (1972)
decade ago. This invariably failed to fit into the wrote of the active participant role:
practitioners vision of nursing and therefore
the tendency has been to reject these out of He should be made to feel that he is not just a passive
piece of agonised and diseased flesh, to which and for
hand. The reasons for the necessity of an assess-
whom people do things, but that he has a part to play
ment tool may be seen as being to: in his own treatment and that some, at least. of the
responsibility devolves upon him.
1 provide a guide and a systematic approach;
2 identify priorities of information required; Nursings body of knowledge remains poorly
3 ensure that only relevant information which developed. By utilizing this model of nursing,
will be used is deliberately sought. thus the intuitive thoughts and feelings of nurses
acknowledging the individuals right to about the methods of supporting patients within
privacy: each category of need will be more readily
4 provide a basis for nurse and patient documented and available for analysis.
decision-making and goal setting; and
5 provide a focus for nurse and patient to
validate the existence of problems. Evaluation of the effectiveness of care
In interpreting this model for nursing prac- It is imperative to have some criteria by which
tice, the framework of human needs is used as a to measure the effectiveness of care. In the
The Human Needs Model of Nursing 649
immediate nurse-patient situation this is only is at an intuitive level, rather than that required
possible if goals are set following assessment. In by a practice discipline which is verified through
the wider domain, the model is suggested as a research. This model serves to identify areas in
suitable framework to evaluate the environment nursing of which we have little knowledge,
in which care is provided, both by practitioner especially of how the nurse may effectively
and manager. assess and meet human needs, particularly at
the higher levels.
It is therefore the intention of the authors to
CONCLUSION
continue the development of this model in order
It may be considered that the Human Needs that the translation of theory to practice can
Model of Nursing appears very simplistic. A occur, and the assessment tool to facilitate this
model may present over-simplifications of very is in the process of development. A nursing
complex relationships between concepts, and model should be capable of serving nursing
portray only the barest outline of the reality of practice, education and research; the authors
nursing (Clark 1982). Simplicity may be propose that the Human Needs Model of
defended, however, as being a requisite of a Nursing provides a basis for exploration and
model capable of being translated into multiple development in each of these spheres.
nursing situations, or as a starting point for
exploration of other models. It can be seen that References
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