Virginia Avenel Henderson (November 30, 1897 – March 19, 1996) was an American nurse, researcher, theorist, and writer.
[1] 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" (first published in Henderson & Nite 1978, p. 5, 1955 ed.).
She grew up in Bedford County, Virginia, where she received her early education at her grandfather's community boys' school.
[6] In 1921, Henderson graduated from the US Army School of Nursing in Washington, D.C. She received a BS in 1931 or 1932 and a Master's degree in 1934 from Teachers College, Columbia University.
[1][4] Henderson's career in public health nursing began in 1921 at the Henry Street Settlement in Manhattan, New York.
In 1953 she became a research associate at Yale School of Nursing transitioning to emeritus status in 1971 continuing to serve in that position until 1996.
revision of Bertha Harmer's Textbook of Principles and Practices of Nursing when the original author died.
[7] She was selected to the American Nurses Association Hall of Fame and has received honorary degrees from thirteen universities.