shaping nursing practice

7/30/2019 Shaping Nursing Practice

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Health, Wellness, and Illness Shaping Nursing Practice 1

Health, Wellness, and Illness Shaping Nursing Practice

Henry R. Chouinard

University of New Hampshire


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Abstract

Nursing practice is affected by many factors. Health can be defined as the state of the

body. Wellness is a combination of mental, physical, and psychosocial health. Illness is

when there is something obstructing ones wellness. These terms help describe a basic

understanding of nursing practice and how patients are assessed and treated.

Keywords: Health, Wellness, Illness


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The practice of nursing is a blend of art and science. These two separate fields

come together to help the patient overcome whatever ails them. Things that affect the

patient are his health, wellness, and any illnesses that are afflicting him. I believe that

health is the state of the body. The articles Health, well- being and wellness: An

anthropological eco-systemic approach .( Kirsten, van der Walt & Viljoen, 2009) , and

Failing Bodies: Body Image and Multiple Chronic Conditions in Later Life (Clarke, L.H.,

Giffin, M, 2008) contained their own definition of what health is. The state of being free

from illness or injury (Kirsten, 2009), and individuals personal history, attitudes, and

feelings regarding body weight and shape, cultural norms, and psychological and

biological factors (Clarke, 2008) were how Kirsten and Clarke defined health. I believe

wellness is the combination of a good mental, physical, and psychosocial health. Kirsten

said that wellness was proper harmony and balance resulting from promoting the well-

being of all the different facets, constitutive elements or domains of existence of a

person . And that influenced by environmental factors such as the quality of air, wat er

and food, the topography of the land and general living habits (Kirsten 2009). I believe

illness is something that is obstructing ones wellness. Kirsten said that illness was a

consequence of disharmony and imbalance (Kirsten, 2009) and described as

biographical disruption (Clarke, 2008) by Clarke.

The three key terms, health, wellness, and illness are all closely tied together and

are what nurses use every day to understand what a patient is going through. Illness is an


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absence of well-being, and if someone is not well then they cannot be in good health.

Nursing practice is directly affected by this relationship. It is the healthcare teams job is

to eliminate illness and promote wellness, which will bring about the overall health of the

community. In previous years, the medical field has been centralized around curing

illness, period. Now the overall health and well-being of the patient is taken into account.

Nursing practice, now more than ever, relies on a balance between the art and science of

nursing to provide the best quality of care to the patient and the community.


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Works Cited

Clarke, L.H., Giffin, M. (2008). Failing Bodies: Body Image and Multiple Chronic

Conditions in Later Life. Qualitative Health Research, 18; 1084

DOI: 10.1177/1049732308320113

Kirsten, T.G.J.C., Van der Walt, H.J.L. & Viljoen, C.T. 2009. Health, well- being and

wellness:

An anthropological eco-systemic approach. Health SA Gesondheid 14(1), Art.

#407, 7

pages. DOI: 10.4102/hsag.v14i1.407

shaping nursing practice

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