Please respond to each classmate with at least 125 words with a reference. Discu

Please respond to each classmate with at least 125 words with a reference.
Discussion1:
Virginia Henderson developed what is often called the “Need Theory” which consists of 14 components that should be addressed to promote independence of activities contributing to health and recovery. Khan (2023) states that the theory focuses on the basic needs of patients including breathing normally, eating and drinking adequately, eliminating body wastes, moving and maintaining desirable postures, good sleep and rest, selecting appropriate clothing, maintaining body temperature, keeping the body clean and well-groomed, avoiding dangers in the environment, communication with others, worship according to one’s faith, working in such a way that one feels a sense of accomplishment, participating in various forms of recreation, and learning, discovering, or satisfying the curiosity that leads to normal development and health. These components can be used in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to meet the fundamental needs of the infant.
There are plenty of opportunities to apply this theory in the NICU that can help promote growth and development leading to independence. A few examples would be focusing on the need to breathe normally. Infants do not develop lung surfactant until they are 30 weeks gestation and alveoli are not fully mature until 40 weeks gestation (Warburton, 2017). This can result in Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) which can alter the patient’s breathing pattern and oxygenation. Correcting respiratory issues by administering surfactant or oxygen can help address this issue, thus contributing to the breathing normal component of the “Need Theory”. A few other interventions that are beneficial for infants relating to this theory are maintaining body temperature, good sleep and rest, and eating and drinking adequately. These are all important in the growth of premature or sick babies in the NICU. Body temperature can be maintained by providing the appropriate bed such as an isolette that corrects the infant’s temperature to prevent hypothermia, ensuring the food and hydration are provided by a feeding tube or IV fluids, and encouraging good rest with dim lights and a quiet environment.
The American Nurses Association (ANA) defines nursing as the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, preventing injuries and illnesses, facilitating healing, alleviation of suffering through diagnosis and treatment, and advocating for the care of individuals, groups, and the community. This definition aligns with Henderson’s “Need Theory” because it states that promoting optimal health and abilities can help lead to independent care. They both focus on the prevention of injuries and illness and helping patients towards recovery.
Discussion 2:
Working on a med-surg unit I provide care to patients with various illnesses, injuries, and disabilities. Virginia Henderson’s need theory is one that can optimize my practice by focusing on the patient’s deficits in a manner that promotes as much independence as possible during admission and after discharge. Often, patients leave the hospital and cannot function independently. This results in preventable readmission into the hospital. It is imperative that nurses do as much educating patients and allow them to do as much for example, promoting early mobility of the patients after surgery’s or during their sickness, this must be done in a safe manner. Hospital readmission within 30 days or less is most often the result of the patient not being educated or provided with the tools or resources needed to care for themselves to the fullest capacity during admission. Henderson’s Need Theory emphasizes the importance of patient independence so that the patient will continue progressing after being released from the hospital” (Virginia Henderson – Nursing Theory, n.d.). By incorporating her theory into my practice, I will ensure that the patients are ambulating and out of bed as much as possible and assess their knowledge base so that I can educate on any lack of knowledge that can lead to the patient not functioning to their maximum capacity.
According to the American Nursing Association (ANA), Nursing is the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities; prevention of illness and injury; facilitation of healing; alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response; and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, groups, communities, and population”. ANA’s definition of nursing coincides with Virginia Henderson’s need theory as they both define the goal of promoting the maximum optimized overall health and independence of the patient. Institute either Henderson’s or ANA definition and optimizing the health and recovery pat available that will also promote independence.