Overview
This lecture explains Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and how nurses use it to decide what care to give first. It shows how people’s needs change as they work toward reaching their full potential, and how nurses can use this to help clients in the best way.
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Overview
- Created in 1943 by psychologist Abraham Maslow to show how people’s needs change as they try to become their best selves (self-actualization).
- The hierarchy is shaped like a pyramid with five levels. Lower levels must be met before moving up.
- Nurses use this model to decide which client needs are most urgent and should be taken care of first.
The Five Levels of Maslow’s Hierarchy
There are five levels, from the most basic needs at the bottom to the highest at the top:
- Physiological Needs
- Safety and Security
- Love and Belonging
- Self-Esteem
- Self-Actualization
1. Physiological Needs (Base of the Pyramid)
- These are the most basic needs for survival: oxygen (air to breathe), water, food, sleep, shelter (a safe place to stay), clothing, and reproduction (ability to have children).
- These needs must be met first, before anything else. If you don’t have air, water, or food, nothing else matters.
- In nursing, this matches the ABCs: Airway (is the person’s throat open?), Breathing (are they breathing?), Circulation (is blood moving through the body?).
- Example: If a client is having trouble breathing, a nurse gives them oxygen or helps them breathe better. This is always the first thing to fix.
2. Safety and Security
- Once basic needs are met, people need to feel safe and secure. This means both physical safety (not in danger) and mental/emotional safety (not anxious or scared), as well as financial stability (having enough money to live).
- Example: A nurse checks an older adult’s home for things that could cause falls, like loose rugs or poor lighting, and suggests removing them. This helps prevent injuries and keeps the client safe.
3. Love and Belonging
- After safety, people need to feel loved and like they belong. This means having relationships, being part of a group, and giving and receiving affection (feeling cared for and caring for others).
- Example: Nurses build trust and a good relationship with clients by listening, showing they care, and being supportive. This helps clients feel they are not alone.
4. Self-Esteem
- This level is about feeling good about yourself (dignity), feeling you have achieved something, having freedom, and being respected or valued by others (social status, prestige).
- Example: If a client learns to check their own blood sugar after many tries, the nurse celebrates this achievement with them. This helps the client feel proud and confident.
5. Self-Actualization (Top of the Pyramid)
- This is the highest level. It means reaching your full potential, growing as a person, helping others, and feeling fulfilled (happy with what you’ve done).
- People at this level want to keep improving, help others, and feel a sense of accomplishment.
- Example: When a client is ready to leave the hospital, the nurse reminds them how much progress they’ve made and encourages them to keep growing and taking care of themselves.
Nursing Prioritization Based on Maslow
- Nurses always take care of the most basic needs (physiological) first, like making sure a client can breathe, eat, and stay alive.
- Needs higher up the pyramid (like self-esteem or self-actualization) are important, but they come after the basics are met, especially in emergencies.
- Maslow’s hierarchy helps nurses decide what to do first when a client has many needs.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: A five-level pyramid showing what people need, starting with survival and ending with reaching your full potential.
- Self-Actualization: Becoming the best you can be and using your abilities to the fullest.
- Physiological Needs: The things your body must have to stay alive (air, water, food, shelter).
- Safety and Security: Feeling safe from harm, both physically and emotionally, and having enough money to live.
- Love and Belonging: Feeling connected to others and being part of a group.
- Self-Esteem: Feeling proud, respected, and confident in yourself.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the five levels of Maslow’s Hierarchy and remember examples for each, especially how nurses meet these needs.
- Always check and take care of physiological needs first in any client care situation.
- Use Maslow’s pyramid to help decide what to do first when caring for someone, especially if they have many needs at once.