Respond 3 ( Latifa Dennison)

Respond 3 ( Latifa Dennison)

Encouraging patients to make immediate and permanent changes in lifestyle can be difficult. There are many

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patients that suffer from generational bad eating habits. They may have grown up in a household with parents who always purchased and cooked foods high in fat, sugar and cholesterol. These habits have now caused them to suffer with diseases such as, diabetes and hypertension. As a Med-Surg Trauma RN, we see patients who are suffering through some of their worst days. For example, there was a patient who was young and was suffering with hypertension and obesity. A nurse must educate themselves on what changes a patient should make and on their patient’s cultural background. The health belief model shows us that it is important to know how the patient perceives their illness, and to understand the patient may have barriers that interfere with how they see their health, such as cultural differences and beliefs. Health education involves not only providing relevant information, but also facilitating health-related behavior change. The nurse, using health-education principles, can assist people in achieving their health goals in a way that is consistent with their personal lifestyles, values, and beliefs (Edelman, 2014). Too often patients are just given handouts to read and not given proper explanation on why they need to make certain changes for a healthy life. Most important of all is that the patient is ready for change. Every patient is different. Therefore, every plan needs to be personalized to fit each individual if there is to be success.

The most important factor here is to understand the patient behavior patterns that you are treating. It is important that the patient understands the results of their unhealthy behaviors and what can happen to their body. Preventative care is key when discussing lifestyle pattern changes with patients. Let them know that if they change their lifestyle they will not have as many hospitalizations. It’s imperative to be as real as possible, the risks associated with lifestyle behaviors is growing as the world we live in evolves. People have been picking up so many new unhealthy practices. Health promotion is key when educating people about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle change. The nurse must stay diligent when trying to help patients grasp a better understanding of what needs to be done. Some of the behavior changes are minimal and can be fixed in a small amount of time. Nurses should demonstrate, be structured in their approach and dedicate time into ensuring the success of their patients.

References

Edelman, C., Kudma , E., & Mandle, C., (2014). Health Promotion Throughout the Life Span (8 th ed.). [Elsevier]. Retrieved from http://evolve.elsevier.com