Question

What is your personal definition of health and does it influence your nursing care of patients?

Answer 1

Health

According to World Health organization ' Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.'

Personal definition of Health

The state of being free from physical or psychological disease or illness or malfunction.

This definition of health influences the day to day nursing practices ( of mine). ( I bileive)The universal nursing goals can be achieved by standing in this definition; universal nursing goals are to-

* promote health

* prevent illness

* alleviate suffering

* restore the health

Personal definition views the health as a condition free from physical or psychological disease or illness or malfunction. By Health promotion activities ( I can ) influence the clients or patients to adapt healthy lifestyle changes and behaviour that contribute to the condition which is free from illness or disease. Health education and supplement of vitamins and nutritional diet largely help the clients to promote the health or prevent future illness or disease. Health education may mainly focus on advantages of healthy lifestyle such as exercise, adequate rest and sleep, personal hygiene, balanced diet and risk of unhealthy practices such as alcoholism, smoking, use of junk foods, physical inactivity etc. A nurse can practice( I practices ) in (my) daily professional activity a habit of educating the patient according to their level of understanding and condition. It largely help them to prevent future illness.

To create a state of being free from physical or psychological disease , a nuse engage ( I engage) in patient care activities such as meeting the needs of patient( nutritional, eliminatory and physiological needs such as pain, temperature) and administering medications as per the physician order to alleviate their suffering and make them free from physical disease as soon as possible.

To reduce the psychological conflict, anxiety and fear a nurse should (I ) act as a patient advocate by providing psychological support to the patient and reduce their fears and anxiety. Provide counselling services for the overall healing both in mind and in body. psychological comfort and hope is an important factor for the physical healing.