Nursing is basically controlled chaos! When call lights are blinking, alarms are ringing, and patients need everything at once. Prioritization is not an option; it is a survival. One wrong move and the consequences can be serious. Not all patients’ needs are equal, and knowing which one matters the most is the decision that nurses have to make. Nurses in this situation rely on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, which is the mental checklist of nurses to make fast, critical decisions. In this blog, we discuss what Maslow’s hierarchy of needs in nursing is, and why every nurse needs a framework for prioritizing patient care.
Before we start, if you are a travel nurse and want to make more money in 2026 with travel nursing, then sign up with SkillGigs now and become part of our travel nursing world, where you can find high-paying travel nursing assignments at your dream locations. Get a $500 bonus once you sign your first travel nursing contract with SkillGigs.
What is Maslow’s hierarchy of needs in nursing?
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is a theory developed by psychologist Abraham Maslow in 1943, and it is a framework that helps nurses to decide which patient care needs to be addressed first to keep patients safe and stable. It organizes human needs at 5 (five) hierarchical levels, ranked from the most basic needs to psychological or emotional needs. The core idea of this theory is that the most basic needs (lower level) of the patient should be met first before psychological needs (higher level). Here is the breakdown of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.
The five levels of Maslow’s hierarchy in nursing with examples
The main idea of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs in nursing is that nurses should ensure that the most basic needs of the patient are met first and are not in immediate danger before treating anxiety, emotional address etc. The 5 levels of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs are:
- Physiological needs
- Safety and security
- Love and belonging
- Self-esteem
- Self-actualization
Physiological needs:
Physiological needs mean basic survival needs or the body’s most basic requirements to stay alive, such as oxygen, food, and water. If these needs are not met, this means the patient is at immediate risk. It includes the following:
- Breathing and oxygen
- Circulation and blood pressure
- Food and water
- Urination and bowel movements
- Temperature regulation
- Sleep and rest
Example: A patient experiencing shortness of breath must be stabilized immediately before treating pain or anxiety.
Safety and security:
Keeping patients safe from any harm, focusing on both physical safety and psychological security. It includes the following:
- Providing a safe environment
- Protection from infection
- Medication safety
- Providing emotional stability
- Routine in care
Example: Nurses provide a safe environment for the patients, such as fall risk precautions, and also help patients to feel emotionally safe by explaining procedures or maintaining privacy.
Love and belonging:
This means nurses should focus on human connection. Means patients need to feel accepted, heard, and supported during hospitalization.
Example: Nurses advocating for their patients or listening and reassuring their patients. Having respect for their cultural values.
Self-esteem:
Illness can threaten patients’ dignity and independence. Self-esteem means how patients view themselves and how respected they feel by others. This includes a sense of autonomy and independence, feeling valued, achievement, and personal control.
Example: Illness can take away patients’ confidence and independence; nurses teach patients how to manage their condition and restore their confidence.
Self-actualization:
The highest level of Maslow’s hierarchy, which focuses on the patient’s personal growth, purpose, and fulfillment. True healing goes beyond physical recovery. It includes the following:
- Reaching personal goals
- Growth and self-improvement
- Understanding the meaning and purpose of life
- Self-acceptance
Example: In nursing practice, nurses help patients set realistic goals and adapt to chronic conditions. This may involve mental health support, rehabilitation, etc.
Why is Maslow’s hierarchy important in nursing?
Prioritizing care is one of the most important skills for nurses to learn, and Maslow’s hierarchy gives nurses a structured way to prioritize care, ensuring life-threatening needs are met first.
- Ensures patient safety and survival first.
- Guides prioritization in complex care.
- Supports patient-centered care.
- Enhanced communication by clearly explaining priorities to the healthcare team.
- Improves long-term recovery and well-being.
Example of using Maslow’s hierarchy in nursing
- If the patient is having shortness of breath and anxiety, then nurses should treat shortness of breath before treating anxiety.
- If the patient informs the nurse about chest pain and fear of dying, then nurses should focus first on what is causing chest pain.
- If the patient is medically stable but feels depressed, then nurses should focus on giving emotional support to the patient.
Which of Maslow’s needs has the highest priority in nursing practice?
Basic survival needs are the highest priority, such as oxygen, food, water, sleep, elimination, shelter, etc., because if these needs are not met, then this means that the patient is at immediate risk.
What is Maslow’s hierarchy of needs in nursing practice?
In nursing, Maslow’s hierarchy pyramid is the visual presentation of human needs organized in a pyramid shape, from basic survival at the bottom to self-actualization at the top. This helps nurses to prioritize care by showing what needs must be addressed first. Maslow’s pyramid consists of five levels.
- Base of Pyramid: Psychological needs
- Second level: Safety and Security needs
- Third level: Love and Belonging
- Fourth level: Self-esteem
- Top of the pyramid: Self-actualization
Conclusion
In nursing practice, nurses need to understand Maslow’s hierarchy of needs because it acts as a framework for nurses to prioritize care. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs consists of 5 levels. The base consists of basic survival needs that should be met first, and the top consists of self-actualization. From stabilizing vital signs to fostering personal growth, every level of Maslow’s hierarchy plays a role in holistic and patient-centered care.
Travel nurses! If you want to make more money in 2026, then SkillGigs is your route to high-paying contracts. Sign up now and explore top high-paying travel nursing assignments. Get a $500 bonus once you sign your first contract with SkillGigs.
