NR 443 Week 7 DQ 1 How Do You Define Health. A Graded. Chamberlain College Of Nursing.Think about how you define health. Do you think your definition is
... [Show More] universal, or is it specific to your
culture and/or beliefs? How might another culture's definition differ?
Respond
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(an instructor response)
Collapse Mark as Unread How Do You Define Health Instructor Hamilton Email this
Author 2/18/2015 8:56:38 PM
Hello Class,
This TD is a current topic in health care, cultures have certain beliefs, rituals, and ways of life specific to
meeting their needs for health promotion and disease prevention…Can you think of a time in your
practice when you needed to address an issue pertaining to what the patient needs and what the patient
will allow based on cultural preference. Community Health Nurses provide care for individuals, groups,
and aggregates from different cultures and subcultures throughout the United States every day. What
strategies can you think of or have implemented to address the health care concerns of emerging
populations? Real work examples are appreciated if you have any, see you in the threads.~Dr Hamilton
Class: You may begin posting in this TD on Sunday, April 12, 2015 for credit.
Respond
Collapse Mark as Read RE: How Do You Define Health Jessica Parker Email this Author
4/14/2015 4:36:00 PM
Instructor Hamilton & Class:
I would define health as a person's physical, emotional, and spiritual state. Many times all three of
these can be related. Emotional problems can lead to physical problems, spiritual beliefs can lead to
reasons to do something, and physical problems can lead to depression or mental unrest. Health is not
always the same but "is fluid and changing" (Nies & McEwen, p. 3).
Different cultures will have different beliefs/ideas of health. Muslims practice Ramadan in which they
fast during daylight. This practice could be detrimental to a diabetic person's health (Nies & McEwen, p.
225).
We have many Amish in our area. Amish people have different beliefs about health. They attempt to
provide healthcare with natural remedies. They do not generally vaccinate for diseases. There was a
measles outbreak in a local Amish community and they were educated of the risks of the disease and
many reluctantly agreed to be vaccinated to help prevent the spread of the disease. They do not have
health insurance and usually do not regularly visit a physician. It can be difficult to follow-up with care
because many do not have phones to reach out to them.
Jessica
Chamberlain College of Nursing. (2015). NR-443 Week 7: Empowering a Global Community [Online
lesson]. Downers Grove, IL: DeVry Education Group.
Nies, M. A., & McEwen, M. (2011). Community/Public health nursing: Promoting the health of
populations (5th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Saunders/Elsevier.
Respond
Collapse Mark as Read RE: How Do You Define Health Rachel Foreman Email this Author
4/15/2015 2:12:51 PM
Jessica, class , and Professor Hamilton,
Thank you for your post, I enjoyed reading it. I would have to say that my definition of health is fairly
similar to yours. I love the quote about the Muslim culture. We have something similar to this in the
Jewish culture. But we interpret the old testament as saying that you have to be in good health in order
to fast. You have to be an adult (13 years of age in the Jewish culture), not pregnant, and not an elderly
person whom would have trouble if they did not eat. If you are sick and need to eat and/or drink in order
to get healthy, you are not encouraged to fast.
Rachel
Respond
Collapse Mark as Unread RE: How Do You Define Health Arthel Tamakloe Email this
Author 4/14/2015 8:07:51 PM
I will define health as when an individual is structurally and functionally whole and sound includes that
which makes a person human.
We recently had a Muslim woman in our clinic with a trauma wound to her upper extremity. When she
came to the clinic that day, we had only a male doctor on duty. She turned what could be considered a
difficult situation into an opportunity to learn how to provide culturally sensitive care. We learned to
incorporate her faith into the care of her wound by having a female present at all times.
Muslim women are extremely modest, and Muslim families expect respect for that modesty and often
ask for a woman to always be present during examinations.
As Nurses we must beware of cultural imposition, which is a person's tendency to impose his or her own
beliefs, values, and patterns of behavior on individuals from another culture.(p. 221)
Nies, M., & McEwen, M. (2011). Community/public health nursing: Promoting the health of populations
(5th ed.). [Vital Source Bookshelf].
Retrieved from http://online.vitalsource.com/#/books/978-1-4377-0860-8
Wills M.Evelyn, McEwen Melanie (2002). Theoretical Basis for Nursing Philadelphia. Lippincott
Williams& wilkins.
Respond Edit
Collapse Mark as Read How Do You Define Health? Pamela Mintz Email this Author
4/12/2015 12:53:27 PM
Class & Dr. Hamilton -
Personally, I think each individual has their own definition of health. I do not think there is a “one size fits
all” definition of health. People are shaped by their upbringing, their culture, their beliefs, their
surroundings, their environment, etc. Their views on health may change with time as well. I agree with
this quote from an article written by Boddington & Räisänen about defining health:
Health may be defined as the absence of disease or other infirmity, although this still leaves the problem
of defining “disease.” However, it is widely, although not universally, considered that there is much more
to health than the simple absence of disease or other physical problems. There may be such a thing as
total health, ultimate health, or degrees of wellness. But this raises questions about how pragmatic or
how idealistic a conception of health is. The WHO definition in particular has been subject to much
criticism for its definition of health as “complete” well-being.
A second issue is that of the domain of health, that focus on the absence of disease tunnels our vision
too much to the physical body, leaving out reference to other dimensions of health, such as mental,
emotional, and social. (2009, p. 51)
When I was working at an outpatient mental health clinic, I came across many patients from many walks
of life. One afternoon a Middle Eastern woman came in for her monthly injection. It was my first time
seeing her, and she came with a female family member. I went through my usual series of questions and
assessments, and she was pleasant with me. When it came to injection time, that’s when it got tricky.
She made a huge “fuss” about my age and how could I even be a nurse, because I looked too young to
“know anything.” The family member was apologetic towards me, but the patient then absolutely
refused to let me give her the injection. Whether it was cultural, or it was her personal preference, I
obliged. I was able to call one of my co-workers (who was – and looked – older) to come administer the
injection to the patient and she left satisfied.
Personally, I try and be mindful of everyone’s beliefs, no matter what my personal opinion is. It becomes
tricky however, when you are faced with a belief that turns into an ethical dilemma. One that comes to
mind was the family who did not believe in modern medicine, and wanted to refuse cancer treatment
for their minor daughter. This cancer was highly treatable/curable, with the right medications. These
then become the medical ethical debates we see publicized. [Show Less]