The hierarchy of human needs, where nurses prioritize basic physiological needs, is identified by?

SCTIMST Staff Nurse - 2015 (Set-A)

Nursing Foundation

Easy

Appeared in: SCTIMST Staff Nurse - 2015 (Set-A)

Explanation

Abraham Maslow, a humanistic psychologist, proposed the Hierarchy of Needs theory.
This theory is a foundational model in nursing used to prioritize patient care by addressing the most fundamental needs first.
The base of the hierarchy consists of physiological needs (e.g., oxygen, food, water), which are the highest priority in any clinical setting.
According to the theory, lower-level needs must be satisfied before an individual can attend to higher-level needs like safety, love, esteem, and self-actualization.

Option A: Sigmund Freud's work was in psychoanalysis, focusing on psychosexual development and the unconscious mind (id, ego, superego), not a hierarchy of needs for prioritization.
Option B: Elisabeth Kübler-Ross is famous for her model of the five stages of grief (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance), which applies to death and dying, not general human motivation.
Option C: Erik Erikson's theory describes eight stages of psychosocial development across the lifespan, where individuals face specific social crises at each stage (e.g., Trust vs. Mistrust).

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs in Nursing Prioritization as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Maslow's Hierarchy is a critical thinking tool for nurses to set priorities in care planning. It ensures that life-sustaining interventions (like managing airway and circulation) are always performed before addressing higher-level needs.
In a mass casualty incident, nurses use this framework to triage patients, prioritizing those with compromised physiological needs.
What if? If a patient is physiologically stable (e.g., vital signs are normal) but is expressing extreme anxiety and fear about their diagnosis, the nurse's priority shifts from the physiological level to the next level up: safety and security. The nurse would then focus on providing reassurance, information, and a secure environment.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key concepts in the question stem: 'hierarchy of human needs' and 'prioritize basic physiological needs'.
Recognize that this is a foundational theory in nursing and psychology.
Systematically review the options, which are all famous theorists. Your task is to match the theory with the correct person.
Associate the term 'Hierarchy of Needs' directly with Abraham Maslow. This is a direct recall of a fundamental concept.
Differentiate Maslow's theory from the others: Freud (psychoanalysis), Kübler-Ross (grief), and Erikson (psychosocial stages). This confirms your choice and reinforces your knowledge of other important theories.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs in Nursing Prioritization
Stem keywords: hierarchy of human needs, nurses prioritize, basic physiological needs
Lead-in keywords: identified by
Negative lead-in flag: false

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E6 Psychology Applied Sreevani 5e pp. 210-212, 208-210

E6 Psychology Applied Sreevani 6e Sem1 p. 211-213