Health, Wellness, and Illness Shaping Nursing Practice

Health, Wellness, and Illness Shaping Nursing Practice Henry R. Chouinard University of New Hampshire

Health, Wellness, and Illness Shaping Nursing Practice 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

Health, Wellness, and Illness Shaping Nursing Practice

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 wellbeing 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, water 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

Health, Wellness, and Illness Shaping Nursing Practice 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.

Health, Wellness, and Illness Shaping Nursing Practice 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