Review of the week

This week we have been thinking about the meaning of the term health promotion and the role of the WHO in promoting a global movement towards health.

Health promotion involves a set of values and principles and as nurses it is important that we reflect on how our nursing values influence how we go about promoting health and whether we are promoting health in a health-promoting way.

Ultimately as health promoters we need to recognise that health promotion requires a series of value judgements about what is meant by good health for the individual and for society and the dilemmas implicit in any health-promoting intervention.

Florence Nightingale was a visionary nurse who saw the ‘bigger picture’ of health. She recognised that any improvements to health required modifying the environment by acting on the factors that influence health and the mechanisms through which they operate. Promoting public health is a core aspect of the work of all nurses.

How could you emulate Florence Nightingale and be more involved in integrating public health in your role and area of practice?

This week you have:

• analysed the term ‘health promotion’
• appraised how health promotion can be implemented in practice
• explored the aims of health promotion and ethical issues and dilemmas relevant to ethical health-promoting practice

Your task

Review your job description and identify any reference(s) to public health and health promotion.

Reflect on what you have learned throughout this course. Are there any changes that you would recommend to the wording of the job description or any additions that you would make?