Human Experience Across The Health-Illness Continuum: Expert Essay With Example
An individual’s health status fluctuates based on external and internal factors. A healthy person is not only healthy because they lack any pathogenic microorganism, but because emotional, physical, and mental status are healthy. Medicine and any form of physical treatment push health to a neutral point where emotional and mental status dictates the direction to premature death or a high level of wellness.
An individual’s health thus fluctuates from high levels of wellness to death, with gradual changes in wellness statuses forming up the wellness paradigm. A health-illness continuum is thus essential in healthcare as it determines the extent of any health condition and proposes solutions for the quality of care needed and the goals targeted to ensure a high level of wellness.
Prompt 1
The health-illness continuum proposes that illness and wellness are the drivers for the well-being of any individual and that they are on opposite ends of the continuum. Signs, symptoms, and disability lead to premature death, and awareness, education, and growth, which lead to a high level of wellness, affect the wellness continuum(PARIDA, 2021).
During patient care, healthcare providers examine the signs and symptoms of any patient to determine the extent to which a disease has reached. This monitoring stage ensures that each unique patient’s needs are met, and healthcare providers understand and manage the outcome.
It is an objective of every healthcare provider to attain the highest possible point of health for any patient, and in doing so, they apply the health continuum to patient care (Banaszak, n.d.). The health continuum helps show healthcare providers which path to take to achieve the best possible results. The neutral point, which is the middle of the paradigm, represents normal health.
The health-wellness continuum guides the choices of both the healthcare provider and the patient to achieve the best possible healthcare outcome. Healthcare workers should adequately assess individual attitudes affect the goals of achieving optimum care.
Prompt 2
As a healthcare provider, I meet several patients at different stages of health. Each patient has a unique disease progression, which provides a learning point (Luciani et al., 2019). The information gathered is invaluable because it adds to the knowledge of care for specific patients and enables me to provide a holistic treatment approach that values and dignifies patients and serves them in various ways that promote flourishing.
The health continuum provides the knowledge necessary to handle each patient at their point of need, ensuring the patient, family, and society restore health and advance in the practices that maintain a healthy being.
Illnesses have no relationship whatsoever with experience. Patients might have similar conditions but differ in the most basic of things like their thought process and relationship with what ails them. It is also important to treat the patient and address the illness based on the patient’s needs. Using standard protocol on all patients would miss out on potential suggestions from patients regarding the direction of the treatments.
Using the health-wellness continuum enables healthcare providers to uphold ethical principles of autonomy, justice, beneficence, and nonmaleficence (Luciani et al., 2019). Additionally, the health-illness continuum enables patients to think of their health as an issue involving them, their healthcare providers, family, and their choices towards achieving a healthy lifestyle.
Prompt 3
When I reflect on my health, several behaviors support my well being. I exercise regularly, eat balanced meals composed of proteins, wholesome carbohydrates, and vitamins, and take plenty of rest. I also actively seek to improve my health status by seeking knowledge and information from evidence-based practices from credible sources like recommendations from international bodies to always better my health.
Others detract me from my wellness, like thinking too much and dwelling in negativity. Currently, I assess myself on the health-illness continuum and find that I am in good health. The knowledge I gained through practice, and studying suggests that I am in normal health.
Prompt 4
Several resources are available to help me move towards wellness. First, I have a lot of knowledge gained through self-studies (“1.03 the health-illness continuum | Nursing fundamentals I,” n.d.). In addition, my co-workers would also offer relevant information to aid in diagnosing and treatment plans. Another resource would be credible websites like the centers for disease control and the world health organization that contain reliable information that provides a basis for the recommended course of action.
Another resource would be my family members because they would provide a support system and ensure I achieve the goals I set out, whether by physically helping me do it or being a constant reminder of what I ought to do. Another resource would be social media, a forum for people to express their thoughts and opinions regarding certain incidences or occurrences. It is a great platform to share strategies for health and wellness.
Conclusion
Change is bound to happen in life, and designing methods of handling the change ensures individuals handle what they can and seek help when they cannot. The health-wellness continuum emphasizes the collaboration between patients and healthcare providers and ensures they each play a part in achieving an ideal outcome. The health-illness continuum is dynamic and subject to change depending on the type of patient, and healthcare providers must learn to appreciate the differences and similarities each patient has.
References
1.03 the health-illness continuum | Nursing fundamentals I. (n.d.). https://brooksidepress.org/nursing_fundamentals_1/?page_id=115
Banaszak, B. (n.d.). Understanding the health continuum. study.com. https://study.com/learn/lesson/health-continuum-guide-for-nurses.html
Luciani, M., Jack, S. M., Campbell, K., Orr, E., Durepos, P., Li, L., Strachan, P., & Mauro, S. D. (2019). An introduction to qualitative health research – Un’introduzione Alla ricerca sanitaria qualitativa. PROFESSIONI INFERMIERISTICHE. https://www.profinf.net/pro3/index.php/IN/article/view/591
PARIDA, S. R. (2021, May 24). Facts you must know about health illness continuum – Nurse in nursing. Nurse in nursing. https://nurseinnursing.com/facts-you-must-know-about-health-illness-continuum/
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Human Experience Across the Health-Illness Continuum
Assessment Traits
Benchmark
Requires Lopeswrite
Assessment Description
Research the health-illness continuum and its relevance to patient care. In a 750-1,000 word paper, discuss the relevance of the continuum to patient care and present a perspective of your current state of health in relation to the wellness spectrum. Include the following:
Examine the health-illness continuum and discuss why this perspective is important to consider in relation to health and the human experience when caring for patients.
Explain how understanding the health-illness continuum enables you, as a health care provider, to better promote the value and dignity of individuals or groups and to serve others in ways that promote human flourishing.
Reflect on your overall state of health. Discuss what behaviors support or detract from your health and well-being. Explain where you currently fall on the health-illness continuum.
Discuss the options and resources available to you to help you move toward wellness on the health-illness spectrum. Describe how these would assist in moving you toward wellness (managing a chronic disease, recovering from an illness, self-actualization, etc.).
You are required to cite a minimum of three peer-reviewed sources to complete this assignment. Sources must be published within the last 5 years, appropriate for the assignment criteria, and relevant to nursing practice.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. A link to the LopesWrite technical support articles is located in Class Resources if you need assistance.
Benchmark Information
This benchmark assesses the following competency:
RN-BSN
5.1. Understand the human experience across the health-illness continuum.
Attachments
NRS-434VN-R-Functional-Health-Pattern-Assessment-Student.docx
NRS-434VN-R-IndividualHealthHistoryandExamina
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