Fundamentals of Nursing: Health and Wellness

• Fundamentals of Nursing is taught by Vivian Catherine C. Camano RN, MAN, in the College of Nursing, NCM 103.

Health Defined

• Health is defined by the WHO (1947) as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

Models of Health and Illness

• Models provide a theoretical way of understanding a concept or idea.

Health Belief Model

• The health belief model has three components:
  • An individual’s perception of susceptibility to illness.
  • An individual’s perception of the seriousness of illness.
  • The likelihood that a person will take preventive action.

Health Promotion Model

• Health is defined as a positive, dynamic state.
• Describes the multidimensional nature of persons as they interact within their environment.
• The desired behavioral outcome is the end point.
• Outcomes include improved health, enhanced functional ability, and better quality of life.

Basic Human Needs Model

• Provides a basis for nursing clients of all ages in all health settings.
• Certain human needs are more basic than others and must be met first.
• Emergent physiological needs take precedence over higher-level needs.

Holistic Health Models

• Considers emotional and spiritual well-being, as well as other dimensions of an individual as important aspects of physical wellness.
• Involves clients in their healing process.

Variables Influencing Health Beliefs and Practices

• Internal variables include developmental stage, intellectual background, perception of functioning, emotional factors, and spiritual factors.
• External variables include family practices, socioeconomic factors, and cultural background.

Health Promotion

• Health promotion is the science and art of helping people change their lifestyle to move toward a state of optimal health.

Levels of Preventive Care

• Primary prevention:
  • Precedes disease or dysfunction.
  • It is also known as wellness activities.
  • It focuses on maintaining or improving general health.
• Secondary prevention:
  • Directed at diagnosis and prompt intervention.
  • Reduces severity and enables the client to return to a normal level of health as soon as possible.
• Tertiary prevention:
  • Minimizes the effect of long-term disease or disability.
  • Aims at preventing complications and deterioration.
  • It is directed at rehabilitation.

Risk Factors

• Risk factors include:
  • Genetic and physiological factors.
  • Age
  • Environment
  • Lifestyle.
• The goal is to modify or eliminate risk factors.

Illness

• Illness is a state in which a person's physical, emotional, intellectual, social, developmental, or spiritual function is diminished or impaired compared with previous experience.

Acute vs Chronic Illnesses

• Acute Illness:
  • Can be potentially life-threatening.
  • Is of short duration.
  • It can be severe.
  • Has an abrupt onset.
• Chronic Illness:
  • Can be potentially life-threatening.
  • Usually lasts for more than 6 months.
  • It is similar to a "disability."

Chronic Illness

• A chronic disabling disease interferes with ongoing life adaptations by making the performance of routine tasks more challenging.
• Nurses provide client education.
• The goal is to reduce the occurrence of symptoms or improve the tolerance of symptoms.
• Normalization includes the client/family adapting to the disease.

Illness behavior

• Internal variables include client perceptions, the nature of the illness, and coping skills.
• External variables include the visibility of symptoms, social group, culture, ethnic background, and socioeconomics.

Impact of Illness

• Can result in behavioral and emotional changes.
• Impact on body image.
• Impact on self-concept.
• Impact on family roles.
• Impact on family dynamics.

Explore health definitions, including the WHO's holistic view. Examine models of health and illness, such as the Health Belief Model focusing on perceived susceptibility and seriousness. Also, study the Health Promotion and Basic Human Needs Models.