The theory has been an important part of nursing care ever since inception of medicine.
Theory provides nurses with a foundation to guarantee that relevant nursing interventions are
provided to patients. Abraham Maslow and Florence Nightingale were two important thinkers
who developed theories that affected the contemporary profession of nursing. Nightingale
pioneered the environmental theory of nursing, which advocates for nurses to configure a
patient's environmental surroundings to facilitate progressive health restoration(Wayne, 2021).
On the other hand, Abraham Maslow pioneered the need-based theory which argues that the
intrinsic need for self-actualization motivates humans. The two ideas help to enhance patient
care, which is an important aspect of nursing.
Because of her contributions to the nursing profession, Florence Nightingale is
considered as one of the pioneers of contemporary nursing. Her environmental theory laid the
groundwork for subsequent nursing thinkers. According to the principle, nursing entails using the
patient's environment to heal and assist them in recovering (Medeiros et al., 2015). It suggests
that nurses arrange a patient's surroundings in such a way that it encourages progressive patient
recovery. The theory is divided into three parts such as psychological, physical, and social,
components of the environmental (Medeiros et al., 2015). Firstly, there are sickness elements in
the social environment as well as interactions between patients, the society, and their
environment. Secondly, physical aspects include ambient elements around the patient's treatment
location. According to the theory, nurses are accountable for maintaining that the patient
environment is clean, calm, and has plenty of fresh air, ample lighting as well as clean
water (Wayne, 2021). Finally, the psychological component includes aspects that impact the
Contributions of Nightingale and Abraham Maslow’s Theories of Nursing 3
patient's mental well-being. A healthy psychological environment includes a well-balanced diet,
therapeutic communication as well as an aesthetically pleasant environment.
The theory of Abraham Maslow which is the theory of needs was developed on the
premise that individuals being able to have intrinsic motivation as they work towards self-
actualization. The theory is very important when it comes to nursing care. According to the
theory, the needs of each individual must be met for them to cooperative, cared for and feel
satisfied (Jennifer, 2018). The nurses use the level of healthcare needed by the patients to be able
to take care of them. For instance, nurses operating in a clinical setting will not need to cater to
their patients' needs for food and drink. However, they will need to ensure their patients' safety
and privacy (Jennifer, 2018). Confirming the setting in which the patient will be cared for might
assist you in determining which patient requirements must be handled first. Besides,
Furthermore, nurses can assess patient communication to discover which requirements are not
being satisfied. Body language such as slouching might indicate a desire for respect, whilst
crossed arms can indicate a need for safety. Negative tones and angry comments can also
indicate a lack of compassion and caring.
Ultimately, the two theorists contribute a lot to nursing care. Currently, the nurses can
identify the needs of the patients and prioritize their time and care to the patient. Nightingale's
idea sufficiently concentrates environmental variables impacting patient health including the
supply of ample ventilation to the patient, clean water, and promotes patient environments that
are stress-free. Both theorists are concerned with the wellbeing of the patients through
improvement of nursing care to the patients. As a result, the quality of care is enhanced
accelerating the recovery of the patients.
Contributions of Nightingale and Abraham Maslow’s Theories of Nursing 4
References
Jennifer, K. (2018, January 18). How to apply Maslow's hierarchy of needs to nursing. The
classroom | Empowering Students in Their College Journey. Retrieved January 27, 2022,
from https://www.theclassroom.com/how-7727994-apply-maslows-hierarchy-needs-
nursing.html.
Medeiros, A. B., Enders, B. C., & Lira, A. L. (2015). The Florence Nightingale's environmental
theory: A critical analysis. Escola Anna Nery, 19(3). https://doi.org/10.5935/1414-
8145.20150069.
Wayne, G. (2021, July 8). Nursing theories and theorists: An ultimate guide for nurses.
Nurseslabs. Retrieved January 27, 2022, from https://nurseslabs.com/nursing-theories/.