Health education
Health education is “any combination of learning experience designs to help individuals and communities improve their health, by increasing their knowledge or influencing their attitudes” (Falkner, 2018). The nurse role in health education in health promotion involves the knowledge and skills of the nursing process. Nurses are actively involved in both health education and health promotion in all tasks by using skills and knowledge to empower patients to live healthy lives. We ensure basic needs are met, assess the current needs, plan and implement strategies and evaluate its response.
The nurse on contemporary affecting family issues involves gathering knowledge thru the assessment and wellness screens. Targeting behaviors modification such as diet, physical activity are simple everyday ways to encourage self-care. Families need support and guidance to face challenges, life as we know it is far from easy. Families are faced with a multiple of issues as society influences day to day life. Issues regarding safety such as Fires, falls, guns, drowning and poisoning (Falkner, 2018). These preventable issues are screened on every child wellness exam at my daughter’s pediatrician. My primary wellness exams also screen for falls, depression, substance abuse and suicides. These topics are often common- knowledge to the general public and families but one must not assume itand must be carefully be addressed.
Global health is preventing transmission of diseases such as influenza, HIV, Zika, Ebola, C DIFF, MRSA and so on. Prevention is aimed at infection control practices and preventing the spread of communicable diseases.Encouraging all those we treat to get immunized for the flu yearly, importance of hand washing and staying home when sick.
Health promotion for families is a crucial nursing role. We foster health promotion with education by staying up-to date on preventative practices. We support and encourage positive behavioral changes, we education on riskfactors, we offer supportive resources. In my practice preventing the flu is always a family discussion I have with my patients on ECMO. Influenza A is highly contagious and is preventable with a flu shot, I often see visitors, family members walking in my FLU ROOMS without even wearing a mask… or washing their hands… So I kindlystop them, inform them of the importance of proper protection and the importance of washing hands. Then I take the opportunity to discuss prevention. I’ve even encouraged families to get vaccinated and help them with locations of free- flu shots in our hospital proximity. Spreading the word, not the flu is my effort to prevent complication from the spread of the disease. I see first-hand preventable deaths from the flu affecting young otherwise healthy people. ECMO support is not available in all centers, so I encourage everyone you meet to get vaccinated. CDC has great flu prevention strategies.
