FNU Family & Health Concepts & Nurse Role in Promoting Health Discussion

Just as the definition of family has changed over time, the definition of health has also changed. As lifestyles have evolved and education and health care has advanced the idea of health has had to change to meet the complex needs of the population. Before much was known about the disease process and how to prevent and treat diseases, health was simply seen as the lack of illness (Falkner, 2018). Now that health care is more advanced and education has provided more understanding, health has taken on an active role. Instead of just a state of being where an individual is free of disease, health can be viewed in an ever changing continuum between health and illness that involves physical, mental, and spiritual wellness. Where an individual falls in the continuum is determined by the active role they take in health promotion.

Because the idea of taking on health has become active instead of passive, health promotion also changed and not only focuses on individual health but the health of the public and communities as well. As stated by the WHO, health promotion is defined as “‘the process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve, their health’” (Falkner, 2018). The idea of health promotion encourages individuals to have control over their own health and focuses on disease prevention rather than managing disease.

The nurse’s role in implementing health promotion interventions has grown and with the focus on prevention, health promotion education has become crucial (Falkner, 2018). Nurses educate their patients constantly and they take on many different roles to provide the best care to their patients to ensure health promotion. One important tool for health promotion is utilizing evidence based practice. Evidence practice is based on scientific evidence to improve patient care and is the groundwork for health promotion (Falkner, 2018). Nurses are being pushed to implement EBP so strongly because it has proven to be the best way to care for and promote health for our patients. To not use EBP would be contrary to the role of a nurse because it would not be promoting health to the best ability.

Falkner, A. (2018). Health Promotion: Health and Wellness Across the Continuum. Health promotion in nursing care (chapter 2). Retrieved from: https://lc.gcumedia.com/nrs429vn/health-promotion-health-and-wellness-across-the-continuum/v1.1/#/chapter/2