FAYE GLENN ABDELLAH:
TYPOLOGY OF 21 NURSING PROBLEMS
Faye Glenn Abdellah: Typology of 21
Nursing Problems/21 Nursing Problems
Theory
- pioneer nursing researcher, helped
transform nursing theory, nursing
care and nursing education
As a comprehensive service, nursing
includes:
1. Recognizing the nursing problems of
the patient
2. Deciding the appropriate course of
action to take in terms of relevant
nursing principles
3. Providing continuous care of the
individuals total needs
4. Providing continuous care to relieve
pain and discomfort and provide
immediate security for the individual
5. Adjusting the total nursing care plan
to meet the patient’s individual needs
6. Helping the individual to become
more self directing in attaining or
maintaining a healthy state of mind.
7. Instructing nursing personnel and
family to help the individual do for
himself that which he can within his
limitations
8. Helping the individual to adjust to his
limitations and emotional problems
9. Working with allied health
professions in planning for optimum
health on local, state, national and
international levels
10. Carrying out continuous evaluation
and research to improve nursing
techniques and to develop new
techniques to meet the health needs
of people
Philosophical Underpinnings of the
Theory
Abdellah’s patient-centered approach to
nursing was developed inductively from her
practice and is considered a human needs
theory
11 Nursing Skills
1. Observation of health status
2. Skills of communication
3. Application of knowledge
4. Teaching of patients and families
5. Planning and organization of work
6. Use of resource materials
7. Use of personnel resources
8. Problem-solving
9. Direction of work of others
10. Therapeutic use of the self
11. Nursing procedures
21 Nursing Problems Theory
Basic to All Patients
1. To maintain good hygiene and
physical comfort
2. To promote optimal activity: exercise,
rest and sleep
3. To promote safety through the
prevention of accidents, injury, or
other trauma and through the
prevention of the spread of infection
4. To maintain good body mechanics
and prevent and correct deformities
5. To facilitate the maintenance of a
supply of oxygen to all body cells
6. To facilitate the maintenance of
nutrition for all body cells
7. To facilitate the maintenance of
elimination
