knowledge of that discipline and accompanying practice abilities
Characteristics of a profession:
- practical services vital to human and social welfare
- practice based on specialized knowledge
- continuous advancement of knowledge through research
Discipline: specific to academia and refers to a branch of education, a department of learning, or
a domain of knowledge
Nursing: person, health, environment/situation
Registered Nurse: self-regulated health care professional who work autonomously and in
collaboration with others to with others to enable individuals, families, groups, communities and
populations to achieve their optimal levels of health. They deliver direct health services,
coordinate care and support clients in managing their own health.
Health:
-any illness becomes a subtraction from max health
-interrelation of illness/disease and health
Health according to WHO: the extent to which an individual or group is able, on the one hand,
to realize aspirations and satisfy needs; and, on the other hand, to change or cope with the
environment.
Labonte (1993): Holism in health (wellbeing) – physical, mental, social. Intertwined with
realization, and personal and social resources
3 main approaches to health: medical, behavioural, socioenvironmental
Medical Approach:
-emphasizes that medical intervention to restore health
-focuses on disease and disease prevention
-central to this approach is HC system, access to healthcare is the way to keep populations
healthy (in this approach)
, Behavioural Approach:
-new concept central to this approach is LIFESYTLE
- The Lalonde Report "further improvement in the environment, reductions in self-imposed
risks, and a greater knowledge of human biology" were necessary to improve the health status of
Canadians
-Lalonde determined that more people died or has chronic diseases due to accidents-or self-
imposed risks
-implied that the gov't had a role in HP by shaping the environment
-assumption: if people know what is good for them, they will do it
Socioenvironmental Approach:
-arose from a critic to the behavioural approach. Social context must be included in looking at
HP
-our social surroundings have a huge impact-on the decisions we make
-no more "victim blaming"
Health Promotion:
-addresses health issues in context
-supports a holistic approach
-requires LT perspective
-draws on knowledge from social, economic, political, environmental, medical and nursing
sciences and first-hand experiences
Disease Prevention: presents as a way to AVOID initial onset or complications of disease/illness
Primary DP: before signs and symptoms
Secondary DP: early detection once pathogenesis occurs
Tertiary DP: in convalescent stage of disease, aim to regain most functions of the individual