Nursing Fundamentals: Man, Health, and Communication

Fundamentals in Nursing - Module 1

• Fundamentals in Nursing NCM 103 covers introductory concepts over the second semester of Academic Year 2024-2025.
• Module 1 focuses on the concept of man, health, and illness, and introductory concepts in nursing.

Key Areas of Focus

• Concept of man, health, and illness.
• Communicating including the process, modes and therapeutic communication.
• Helping relationships in nursing.
• Communication and the nursing process.
• Nursing as an art, including caring and caring practice models.
• Teaching, including health promotion, disease prevention, and health restoration and maintenance.

Learning Objectives

• Comprehend the holistic nature of health and illness by exploring the interconnection of physical, emotional, social, and spiritual health aspects.
• Recognize the health care delivery system's role by analyzing its structure, levels, and challenges.
• Recognize how nurses provide accessible and equitable care.
• Define and appreciate nursing as both a profession and an art.
• The importance of caring, communication, and professional qualities in nursing practice are vital.
• Develop communication and caring skills, therapeutic communication techniques, caring models, and self-care strategies.
• These skills are necessary to improve patient relationships and outcomes.
• Promote health, prevent disease, and support rehabilitation.
• Learners will acquire knowledge and strategies for health promotion and disease prevention including rehabilitation strategies.

Concept of Man, Health, and Illness

• Understanding these concepts is foundational for healthcare delivery and the promotion of well-being.
• Man, health, and illness involves looking at the interrelationships between human beings and their physical, mental, social, and environmental conditions.

Concept of Man

• A person is seen as a holistic being including physical, emotional, social, and spiritual parts.
• Each person interacts with their environment.
• Health is affected by biological, psychological, and environmental factors.

Factors Influencing Man

• Biological factors include genetics and age; genetics may predispose individuals to diseases such as heart disease.
• Psychological factors entail mental health and emotions, such as anxiety leading to sleep problems.
• Environmental factors comprise air quality, job safety and safe drinking water.

Concept of Health

• Health as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), is more than the absence of disease.
• Health is a state of physical, mental, and social well-being.
• Health includes wellness, the capacity to have a productive life and ability to adapt to stresses.

Complete Well-Being

• The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not just the absence of infirmity.
• To maintain good health, eating healthy, staying active, sufficient rest, solid relationships, stress management, and a sense of purpose are all critical.

Concept of Illness

• Illness is a subjective experience of feeling unwell, or a disruption in physical or mental health.
• Illness is affected by social, cultural, and personal ideas and might not match up with medical diagnosis.
• Understanding illness involves identifying biological, psychological, social and environmental factors.

Illness vs Disease

• Disease is diagnosed by clinicians and is a specific medical condition (e.g., diabetes or pneumonia).
• Illness refers to a personal experience of feeling bad.
• Addressing both diseases and how patients feel and experience their health issues will help healthcare providers give better care.

Factors Affecting Health and Illness

Biological Factors

• Genetics may cause a predisposition to diseases like diabetes and cancer.
• Age causes a vulnerability to health issues at different life stages.
• Gender influences common and significant health issues like reproductive health.

Lifestyle Factors

• Nutrition and a balanced diet may improve health; however, poor eating habits can cause obesity and malnutrition.
• Regular exercise reduces risks associated with stress, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases.
• Smoking, drug, and alcohol use will negatively affect health.

Environmental Factors

• Physical environment pollution, climate change, and urban conditions can affect respiratory health and disease spread.
• Socioeconomic environment poverty, education, and access to resources can significantly influence health outcomes.

Psychological and Social Factors

• Chronic stress may lead to conditions such as hypertension and depression
• Social support with strong social networks contributes to better health outcomes.
• Cultural beliefs, practices, and attitudes towards healthcare can affect how someone seeks medical attention.

Health System Factors

• Accessibility of healthcare in rural versus urban areas impacts health.
• Quality of care, adequacy of resources, medical personnel, and technology all plays a factor.
• Health policy and governmental regulations affects health outcomes.

Healthcare Delivery System

• Definition, health services are provided to communities or individuals, including curative, palliative, preventive, and rehabilitative care.

Levels of Healthcare Delivery

• Primary care is the patients' first point of contact and may include a community clinic or a general practitioner.
• Secondary care refers to specialized medical services and often requires a referral.
• Tertiary Care involves advanced surgical procedures and intensive care, this is highly specialized.
• Quaternary Care is typically experimental medicine, rare surgical procedures or diagnostics.

Healthcare Systems Models

• Beveridge Model healthcare funded by taxation in the UK NHS.
• Bismarck Model, an insurance-based system often employer-provided in Germany.
• National Health Insurance Model, a single-payer system combining elements of Beveridge and Bismarck, is used in Canada.
• Out-of-Pocket Model, individuals pay for healthcare services, most common in developing nations.

Key Components of Effective Healthcare Systems

• Allied health professionals, nurses, and physicians are all examples of healthcare providers.
• Diagnostic centers, clinics, and hospitals are considered key components of health infrastructure.
• Government funding, public and private insurance affects health financing.
• Health information systems data is collected for policy formulation and decision-making.
• Health regulations and policies ensures equitable access to care, safety and quality.

Challenges in Healthcare Delivery

• Lack of trained healthcare professionals in underserved areas are workforce shortages.
• Health disparities and inequities in access to care and outcomes is a challenge.
• Pandemics and emergencies and preparedness for health crises like COVID-19 are a factor.
• Rising expenses for medical care and better technology causes a challenge.
• Telemedicine, electronic health records, and Artificial Intelligence in healthcare all contributes to the integration of technology.

Concept of Nursing Profession

• The concept of nursing sees the field as a profession.
• Nursing is a science and art that combines knowledge, skills, and caring to improve health, prevent sickness, and patient safety. Specific standards and rules are critical for quality and patient trust.

Nursing Criteria as a Profession

• Nursing qualifies as a profession based on these characteristics.
• Nurses must undergo intensive education, specialized training in patient care, and other health sciences.
• Nurses must follow ethical standards and emphasize confidential patient rights and compassionate patient care.
• Nurses must focus on providing and improving care.

Accountability and Autonomy

• Nurses are responsible and must be accountable for their actions and decisions during independent and collaborative practices.
• Nursing demands lifelong learning to stay updated with advancements in medical science and technology
• Nurses are part of regulatory standards of practice and professional bodies such as the International Council of Nurses.

Professionals and Personal Qualities of a Nurse

• Personal qualities of a nurse include empathy, compassion, patience, adaptability, and integrity.
• Professional qualities include communication skills, clinical skills, competence, critical thinking, teamwork, and leadership.

Fields of Nursing

• There is a wide range of nursing specializations to meet diverse patient needs.
• Geriatric nursing focuses on health needs of older adults.
• Mental health nursing cares for individuals with psychiatric disorders.
• Community health nursing encourages promoting health and prevention of illness in specific communities.
• Critical care nursing is used in managing patients in intensive care units.
• Obstetrics and gynecology nursing include caring for women during pregnancy, childbirth, and post-partum
• Emergency nursing provides patients with immediate care in emergency and trauma situations.
• Medical-surgical nursing cares for adults with acute and chronic illnesses.
• Pediatric nursing cares for adolescents, children, and infants.

History of Nursing

• Nursing began as a role performed by caregivers within communities and families.
• Civilizations like Egypt, Greece, and Rome focused on care for the sick and injured.
• During the medieval period, monks and nurses cared for the sick and hospitals became more common.
• Florence Nightingale is the founder of modern nursing and revolutionized nursing through the Crimean War (1853-1856), and structured nursing education.
• Nursing evolved with professional and formal training, with technological advancements used to expand specialization.
• Current nursing practices use patient-focused and evidence-based practices, including electronic health records and telemedicine.
• Global health is emphasized and addresses disparities and pandemics.