Literature Review of Health Promotions essay

Literature Review

Traditionally the United States health care system has been sickness-oriented. However, in the last two decades, a new paradigm has emerged. This new paradigm emphasizes wellness rather than sickness. As a result in this change in focus, health promotion is now an integral part of the nursing profession.

This research paper will review current literature from three professional sources relative to the nursing profession and health promotion. This paper will analyze:

1. How is health promotion defined? 2. What is the purpose of health promotion? 3. How has the role of a nurse changed as the result of the emphasis on health promotion? 4. How are nurses implementing health promotion? 5. Identify, compare and contrast the three levels of health promotion prevention.

Health promotion simply stated are the activities and behaviors that help individuals stay healthy. These behaviors and activities include self-responsibility, physical fitness, nutritional awareness and stress reduction and management. In their research for “Brunner and Suddarth’s Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing,” Smeltzer and Bare (2006) state

“health promotion can be defined as activities that by accentuating the positive assist a person to develop those resources that will maintain or enhance well-being and improve the quality of life. It refers to the activities that a person does personally in the absence of symptoms in an attempt to remain healthy.

These activities do not be assistance of a member of the health care team. (Smeltzer & Bare, 2006). Health promotion in the United States has a single purpose.

That purpose according to Smeltzer and Bare (2006) is “to focus on the person’s potential for wellness and to encourage him or her to alter personal habits, lifestyle and environment in ways that will reduce…