Full Answer Section

Theories and Concepts Related to Health-Promotion Behaviors

There are many different theories and concepts that can be used to understand health-promotion behaviors. Some of the most common theories include:

• The health belief model: This theory suggests that people are more likely to adopt healthy behaviors if they believe that they are at risk for a health problem, that the benefits of the behavior outweigh the costs, and that they have the ability to change their behavior.
• The social cognitive theory: This theory suggests that people are more likely to adopt healthy behaviors if they see others modeling those behaviors, if they receive social support for those behaviors, and if they have the skills necessary to change their behavior.
• The theory of reasoned action: This theory suggests that people’s intentions to adopt healthy behaviors are influenced by their attitudes towards those behaviors, their subjective norms, and their perceived behavioral control.

Health Promotion, Illness Prevention, Health Maintenance, Health Restoration, and Rehabilitation

The terms health promotion, illness prevention, health maintenance, health restoration, and rehabilitation are often used interchangeably. However, there are some important distinctions between these terms.

• Health promotion: This refers to activities that are designed to improve health and prevent disease.
• Illness prevention: This refers to activities that are designed to prevent specific diseases or health problems.
• Health maintenance: This refers to activities that are designed to maintain good health once it has been achieved.
• Health restoration: This refers to activities that are designed to restore health after it has been lost due to illness or injury.
• Rehabilitation: This refers to activities that are designed to help people with disabilities regain their maximum level of function.

The Influences of Moral, Ethical, and Legal Principles on Professional Nursing Practice

Moral, ethical, and legal principles play an important role in professional nursing practice. Nurses must adhere to these principles in order to provide safe and ethical care.

Some of the most important moral principles in nursing include:

• Respect for autonomy: This principle recognizes the right of individuals to make their own decisions about their health care.
• Beneficence: This principle requires nurses to act in the best interests of their patients.
• Nonmaleficence: This principle requires nurses to avoid causing harm to their patients.
• Justice: This principle requires nurses to distribute health care resources fairly.

Some of the most important ethical principles in nursing include:

• Confidentiality: This principle requires nurses to keep patient information confidential.
• Truth-telling: This principle requires nurses to be honest with their patients.
• Avoidance of abandonment: This principle requires nurses to provide care for their patients until they are transferred to another provider.
• Advance directives: This principle requires nurses to respect patients’ wishes regarding end-of-life care.

Some of the most important legal principles in nursing include:

• The Nurse Practice Act: This law defines the scope of practice for nurses in a particular state.
• The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA): This law protects the privacy of patient health information.
• The Patient Self-Determination Act: This law requires hospitals to provide patients with information about advance directives.

Nurses must be familiar with these moral, ethical, and legal principles in order to provide safe and ethical care. By adhering to these principles, nurses can help to ensure that their patients receive the best possible care.