Bio-psychosocial needs

Bio-psychosocial needs
Introduction
 Nursing involves meeting the needs of those who have self-care deficits and who are
unable to care for themselves in one or more aspects
 The scientific process of nursing allows for the assessment and identification of needs
 The scope of practice of a professional nurse allows for the holistic care of an individual
 Holistic care encompasses the care of bio-psychosocial needs (the different aspects of a
person’s needs) – health is multidimensional
Bio-psychosocial needs
 People have different psychological, social and spiritual dimensions
 Draws from Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and Henderson’s need based theory
Nursing
 Nursing involves caring and having compassion for others
 Nursing actions are aimed at restoring or maintaining an optimal state of physical,
mental and social wellbeing
 Basic human needs remain the same as they constitute the requirements for living
 The activity of nursing involves meeting the patient’s needs
Physical needs
 Described as the factors required for the optimal physical and physiological functioning
of the body
 Includes the physiological processes as well as physical activities and adaption processes
allowing for optimal physical functioning
 Need for: oxygen, circulation, fluids and electrolytes, nutrition, elimination of waste
production, temperature regulation, skin integrity, mobility and exercise, hygiene,
comfort and rest, safety, security, sensation and perception and sexuality