How do you define Health?

Stargazer · Sep 5, 2002

Gawd, are nursing schools STILL assigning this tired topic? There's got to be something more interesting and topical to write a paper on!

Let's see if I can remember some of the verbiage from my paper:

"Absence of disease or infirmity..."

"High-level functioning..."

"Not a static measurement but a continuum, which fluctuates throughout an individual's life depending on age and circumstances...

"Not limited to merely physical well-being, but also incorporating aspects of mental, spiritual and social wellness..." blah blah blah

Your best bet is to get some articles or books on "wellness" and sprinkle in a few quotes. That's what I did, and I got an "A+" on my paper. Good luck!

MollyJ · Sep 5, 2002

The World Health Organization of Health is:

WHO definition of Health

Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

I also think that Margaret A. Newman, a Nurse and a proponent of Margaret Rogers, has something interesting to say about health. What she says is not easily digested or quickly stated. She goes beyond seeing health and illness as dichotomous. Health is good, disease is bad. She sees disease as integrating, a way people get in touch with their patterns (ie constantly internalizing stress). She sees it as an emergent pattern. She sees it as Expanding Consciousness. This idea of expanding consciousness is particularly key, in that she sees disease is a way that people (sometimes painfully) learn about themselves and others.

Newman's mother struggled with some chronic illness all of her life and I suspect that Newman sought meaning and functionality in this state of chronic poor health, which in a dichotomous system would be "all bad".

Still, this view takes us beyond the dichotomous thinking and into a world where life can and will still be GOOD even in a state of altered health function. ANd that is good.

Candice · Sep 5, 2002

Thank-You both for your insight.