Your Perceptions on Health

While there are many discussions regarding health practices, nursing procedures, the education in becoming a nurse, take a moment to think about what you really think 'health' is? What is your personal definition of health as an individual, as a nurse? How does 'health' relates to your everyday life, in your career? What interferes with it?

You answer first! :) What ar YOUR perceptions Eilana?

I think "health" is a state of being that is either improving or worsening. It is never static. Some folks have to work really hard to be approaching "healthy" while others do it quite easily. Genetics anyone? For the most part though, the health crises we Westerners face (heart disease, COPD, diabetes) can often be prevented or delayed by doing away with certain vices in our lives. Lastly, these days health is a commodity.

To me, although an absence of disease may technically be called being healthy, I believe you need a certain vibrancy of spirit. I've know people who have excellent physical health, yet do not seem to be "alive", and others with very poor physical health who seem positively radiant with good health.

In my personal opinion, we only have so much choice, then an accident or illness can take our physical health. But to have the right mental attitude makes all the difference in the world.

To me, each patient has their OWN individual perception of what "health" is. A person can have a chronic disease and be functioning at their own level of perception of "health" while you and I might view them as being "ill". In nursing, it is my job to help the patient attain the level that they perceive to be "healthy". You know the old adage, you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink? The same applies to patients. You can do all of the teaching and interventions in the world but if they are satisfied with "doing okay", then that is all you can do. You can't force a diabetic patient to be compliant with their diet, you can't force a cardiac patient to participate in a cardiac program - certainly you offer and educate as much as possible but, if a patient is unwilling to listen there is really nothing you can do but "plant the seed" and hope they come around sooner rather than later. And, as another poster said, "health" is also in the spirit. A positive outlook has a lot to do with how patients feel no matter how "ill" they really are.

To me, the traditional definition of health is associated as the absence of disease. However, health encompasses more than just disease, it is also relates to the social and physical environments. It is affected by everyday stressors, the ups and downs and one deals with them. A nurse needs to know about his/her individual needs and incorporate that into daily routines. It is to find a balance between being a nurse and being an individual that constitutes one's health.

But to have the right mental attitude makes all the difference in the world.

Healthy is as healthy does. :) In my humble offering of an opinion...health is whatever each individual accepts as "optimum" for them and no one else. It's an individual viewpoint.

Health does vary on an individual basis, but I think a nurse also needs to consider his/her perception on health before helping patients to achieve the highest possible quality of care. Does your perception of health with different stages of your life, as you age, as you experience different stressors ... the answer will definitely be yes. The question is how?

I like this thread and hope that a lot of people respond because it is such a good thing to brainstorm about. I think good health would be when the mind, body, and whatever else that can be contained in one human being's realm of experience is in harmony, that is, I guess, in peace and tranquility and without excess fear, pain, anxiety, or deteoriation.

I think the Alma Ata declaration sums it up most succinctly.

The Conference strongly reaffirms that health, which is a state of complete physical, mental

and social wellbeing, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, is a fundamental

human right and that the attainment of the highest possible level of health is a most important

world-wide social goal whose realization requires the action of many other social and

economic sectors in addition to the health sector.

http://www.who.int/hpr/NPH/docs/declaration_almaata.pdf

Do you think that your perception of health change from a student nurse to a professional nurse ... if so, how?

While there are many discussions regarding health practices, nursing procedures, the education in becoming a nurse, take a moment to think about what you really think 'health' is? What is your personal definition of health as an individual, as a nurse? How does 'health' relates to your everyday life, in your career? What interferes with it?

LOL Eilana....are you in school??? I just had to write a paper on the SAME exact thing as you posted here...and it was phrased almost the same way!

Long story short....Health is whatever the client thinks it is and it is ever-changing. (that was the stance I took for my paper).

P.S. I just read your profile and you are a student! :chuckle What school are you attending? Good luck on your paper!