FNP- MSN 590 Week 1 DQ 1.docx
Discussion prompt: Exploring the concepts of health: Why is the way an individual defines health and health problems
... [Show More] important? What are the implications for nursing? Which theoretical model of health is of particularly interest to you? Why?
According to Felman (2020), the word health "refers to a state of complete emotional and physical well-being. Healthcare exists to help people maintain this optimal state of health." The World Health Organization (WHO), according to Fallon and Karlawish (2019), defines health as a state of "complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." According to "Frequently asked questions: Social determinants of health | NCHHSTP | CDC," (2019), "health is influenced by many factors, which is generally organized into five broad categories known as determinants of health: genetics, behavior, environmental and physical influences, medical care and social factors. These five categories are interconnected" (para. 2). How individuals perceive their health status is essential. Individual perceptions of one's health determine when, how, and if a person seeks out healthcare. Emotional and physical well-being not only affects human society, but can have a positive or negative effect economically.
Nursing today deals with a plethora of conditions, including physical, mental, environmental, socio-economic and behavioral problems across the lifespan. According to Barton (2017), Registered Nurses (RNs) "should be prepared to function in an integrated behavioral health model and provide care coordination for patients who experience multiple chronic illnesses and psychosocial problems" (p. 451).
Of the healthcare models reviewed so far, one that this writer has identified with is Primary Health Care (PHC). According to Batista et al. (2016), "effective and timely access to quality primary care is a critical resource" (p. 214). One method to increase access to healthcare,
especially in underserved and rural areas, would be to ensure that Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) have legislative authority to practice without being required to have physician supervision. According to Chouinard, Contandriopoulos, Perroux, and Larouche (2017) p. 216), "several studies have shown that greater reliance on nurse practitioners can alleviate pressures on primary healthcare systems, such as those caused by public expenditure cuts and demographic changes" (p. 2).
References
Barton, A. J. (2017). The nursing workforce and health reform: Implications for nursing education. Journal of Nursing Education, 56(8), 451–452. https://doi.org/10.3928/01484834-20170712-01
Batista, R., Pottie, K., Bouchard, L., Ng, E., Tanuseputro, P., & Tugwell, P. (2018). Primary health care models addressing health equity for immigrants: A systematic scoping review. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 20(1), 214-230. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10903-016-0531-y
Chouinard, V., Contandriopoulos, D., Perroux, M., & Larouche, C. (2017). Supporting nurse practitioners practice in primary healthcare settings: A three-level qualitative
model. BMC Health Services Research, 17 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12913-017- 2363-4
Fallon, C., & Karlawish, J. (2019, July 17). It’s time to change the definition of health. Retrieved from https://www.statnews.com/2019/07/17/change-definition-health/
Felman, A. (2020, April 20). What is good health? Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/150999
Frequently asked questions: Social determinants of health | NCHHSTP | CDC. (2019, December 19). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/socialdeterminants/faq.html [Show Less]