Analysis of Pender’s Health Promotion Model, Essay Example

Nola Pender is a revolutionary nursing theorist with a unique perspective regarding the nursing profession and the changes taking place throughout recent history with respect to health promotion. With this theoretical perspective in mind, patients have been able to manage a number of significant health concerns in a manner that is consistent with the continued growth and development of the practice environment. Nola Pender’s theory represents a means of understanding and acknowledging the challenges of healthcare practice and the overall continued development of the practice model to impact patient health and wellbeing in a manner that will have a lasting impact on patient outcomes. In addition, it provides an opportunity for advanced practice nurses to examine their roles in expanding health promotion to have a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of many patients. Therefore, the application of this theory to real-world settings is critical so that patients are able to thrive and to improve their health under the direction of nurses who are trained to provide high quality care and treatment to promote healing.

This course has been largely beneficial in my advanced practice nursing education and professional growth, as I have been able to acquire new knowledge regarding theories that are common to the nursing profession, yet are often difficult to understand and acknowledge as part of the practice routine. This course has opened my eyes to new ideas and concepts that may be applied to the nursing profession in unique ways that will have a positive and lasting impact on outcomes and demonstrate a need to explore the dimensions of care and treatment that have a direct impact on patients. I believe that this course has been enlightening because it has always been difficult for me to translate theories into practice in real-life settings, as there I have often experienced disconnect between these two concepts. As a result, I have learned that it is necessary to apply these concepts effectively to my own practice through an expansion of knowledge and resources that will influence my practice objectives and the actions that I take on behalf of my patients.

As I move forward in my practice, it is important to utilize the lessons that I have learned and the knowledge that I have acquired through this course. It is important to me to continue to develop my knowledge and skillset with respect to my patients and how they are cared for and treated.  From a professional perspective, I must continue to evolve and to make the most of the opportunities that I have been given, as I have focused on understanding theories such as Nola Pender and adapting those theories to a variety of situations within the nursing work environment. This process is instrumental in advancing my ability to be effective in meeting the needs of my patients and in supporting a dynamic where patient care quality is of critical importance. I believe that it is in my best interests as an advanced practice nurse to apply theories to my work and to better understand how patients might be feeling and what is required to improve their health. It is important to address these concerns and to make the most of each situation so that there are sufficient treatment alternatives that will have a positive impact on their health, wellbeing, and quality of life.

In order to achieve the course objectives, it is important to develop a strategy that will support a theoretical understanding of different issues and an opportunity to explore the different dimensions of patient care as related to these issues. Therefore, the application of theory to realistic situations is a critical factor in supporting the dynamics of patient care and what is required to ensure that theories are appropriately applied to meet patient needs. This course was effective in advancing the learning curve and in enabling patients to experience optimal recovery and quality of life for patients by recognizing how to enhance their lives and develop protocols to improve their health, one step at a time. Obtaining a better understanding of the different needs of the patients who require care and treatment will demonstrate an increased interest in health promotion and the overall development of new perspectives to improve quality. Providing examples regarding theoretical perspectives was particularly helpful in advancing this process and in recognizing the importance of developing strategies for improving patient care on a continuous basis.

At the beginning of this course, my expectations somewhat low because I was unsure what would happen when I began to learn about the different theories that impact direct patient care and treatment. It is often overwhelming to learn these concepts because they are largely unfamiliar and may be difficult to grasp at times; however, I recognized in the early part of the course that with the appropriate level of focus, I was able to grasp the different theories and be able to distinguish them from each other. On a personal note, my level of understanding of a concept is directly correlated to my level of interest, enthusiasm, and willingness to move forward with the concept as an important tool. I believe that although this is one of my learning weaknesses, it enables me to focus more effectively and to be mindful of the different challenges that I face as I continue to move forward with my educational pursuits.

The contributions of my peers have been largely instrumental in expanding my knowledge base within this course, as they have provided important tools and resources in allowing me to understand some of the theories that have been discussed. My peers have been largely effective in addressing my concerns and in supporting my understanding of the concepts of the course. They introduced experiences to the discussion that were particularly beneficial because they provided a means of exploring the application of these theories in real-life settings that bridge the gaps more effectively. This was very encouraging and provided a means of exploring the different dynamics of these theories and how they apply to the work environment in different ways.

In the future, I believe that this course will provide me with a strong foundation for applying theoretical principles in my work with patients and in a team setting. These theories must be applied in such a manner that will enhance my delivery of care and treatment to my patients, and also in addressing and solving complex problems at the nursing practice level. As a team, myself and my colleagues must be prepared to manage the different aspects of the work environment and to use course principles to ensure that patient care as effective as possible, given the difficulties associated with balancing patient care delivery with other key objectives. It is important to develop strategies within the context of nursing practice that will have a lasting impact on patients and which will facilitate theoretical applications effectively and consistently to meet expectations.

One of the most interesting theories that has evolved in nursing practice to date was established by Nola Pender in 1975, known as the Theory of Health Promotion. This theory offers a number of concepts that have become increasingly relevant to the nursing practice setting, given the increased challenges experienced by patients that impact their health and wellbeing (Syx, 2008). Pender’s theory is applicable to advanced practice nursing because it reflects the importance of shaping an environment where patient care and treatment are likely to impact quality of life in significant ways; therefore, it is important to understand the patient as a human being and the many characteristics that contribute to this process in order to effectively manage outcomes in a positive manner. There must be a greater emphasis on understanding how to improve health through promotional activities that will impact patients across many different variables and to be mindful of the issues that may have a direct influence on outcomes. From this perspective, Pender’s model, which largely emphasizes the importance of understanding the dynamics between the environment and human health, are a reflection of the need to improve health through a steady state and to consider health as much larger than merely freedom from illness (Petiprin, 2015).

Pender’s theory also embodies the dynamic between the person, the environment, nursing, health, and illnesses in order to accomplish the desired objectives (Pender, 2011). From this perspective, the human condition is a product of the associations between these different objectives and in supporting a clearer approach to treating patients to achieve a high level of symbiosis (Pender, 2011). At this juncture, nurses must be able to effectively collaborate with each other in order to enhance the lives of their patients, while also considering other factors that may contribute to effective outcomes and long-term health for patients (Pender, 2011). Health is largely a product of individual behaviors, accompanied by self-care objectives, along with social interactions and the development of relationships that may have a lasting impact on patients over the long term (Petiprin, 2015).

In accordance with the Health Promotion Model, there must be a greater emphasis on the person and health behaviors in order to have the desired level of impact that will make a difference and support the growth of the practice model in a positive manner (Pender, 2011). Furthermore, it is important to identify the areas where relationships between nurses and their patients may be positive contributing factors to patient health and wellbeing (Hendricks, 2015). From a nursing perspective, it is essential to create opportunities for patients to manage their health effectively and to be engaged in a positive and meaningful approach to recovery that supports the coordination of care and treatment to impact patients (Hendricks, 2015). Recognizing the value of patient care and treatment is essential to the discovery of applications of this model that will have lasting benefits (Nursing Planet, 2012). Pender’s approach to health promotion demonstrates a need to explore the dimensions of care and treatment that are recognized as part of her experiences in the scientific era, whereby discoveries were abundant and nursing practice benefited from change and progress within scientific research and its application to the practice setting (University of Michigan School of Nursing, 2015). The adoption of Nola Pender’s model to nursing practice fills an important void regarding health promotion that is not always addressed, particularly when there is an emphasis on the development of an effective strategy to accomplish the objectives of the nursing profession and to be mindful of the steps that are required to achieve growth at a high level. Health promotion activities must be a critical component of any discussion regarding patient health and wellbeing, as this process reflects a need to examine the context of care and treatment and what is required to ensure that patient health is optimized, given the conditions that are present. Patient health is challenged by the overall development of perspectives that influence the profession and which demonstrate the value of recognizing the patient as a person and the surrounding environment’s impact on health.

For a patient with diabetes or another chronic condition that requires continuous treatment, it is important to develop a strategy that will utilize the key priorities of health promotion in order to effectively manage the outcomes that will be achieved. Therefore, Nola Pender’s Health Promotion Model will demonstrate the importance of balancing health objectives with the environment and a need for greater acknowledgement of the human being and behaviors in advancing nursing-based objectives at a high level. Patients with a chronic illness must be provided with a platform to maintain their health and to promote healing; therefore, Pender’s model is designed to accomplish this objective and to make a difference in the lives of patients. At the same time, the model is grounded in the development of relationships that will influence outcomes and which will impact patient care at a high level. Nurses must be able to care for patients and to optimize their treatment plans with proven strategies that will influence behavioral change that is based upon prior evidence. In this context, nurses are able to be effective when they provide guidance, support, and knowledge that will have a significant impact on patient care and treatment at a high level, using a consistent approach to achieve this objective. This will be influential in supporting the need for collaborative care that is not only relationship-based, but is grounded in theoretical principles to achieve effective outcomes.

With the chosen scenario, one model that would be highly ineffective for this patient population is the concept of primary nursing, whereby a single nurse is responsible for providing care and treatment to the patient throughout the period of need, which translates into an experience that is grounded in a 1:1 relationship between nurse and patient (Current Nursing, 2012). This theory would not be applied successfully to the nursing practice environment for chronic disease because it is in direct contrast to Pender’s model, which emphasizes collaborative care and relationship development within a team setting. Therefore, the primary nursing model would not be an effective contributor to the overall development of a successful nursing environment that could have lasting benefits for the patient population who faces one or more chronic diseases (Current Nursing, 2012). Furthermore, this model is largely cost prohibitive because it requires nurses who are assigned to patients to essentially provide around-the-clock care to patients, which is the opposite of most areas of modern nursing practice that involve a team-based approach to nursing to promote a highly collaborative and communicative nursing environment. If a patient were to receive care from the same nurse throughout the course of treatment without any other interaction with other nurses, it is possible that the patient could experience setbacks if the nurse in charge does not have the knowledge, experience, or insight that is necessary to address the patient’s situation effectively and with the intent to improve his or her quality of life. In this context, it is important for nurses to be mindful of the issues related to patient care that influence outcomes and which impact their recovery.

As a professional nurse, it is important to identify the theories and concepts that will have a lasting impact on patient health, applying these approaches to meet patient needs across different areas. Therefore, it is important to identify these tools to develop strategies for growth that will translate into effective results for patients. When patients receive the best possible care and treatment that is available. Pender’s Model of Health Promotion offers a critical application of nursing-based concepts and knowledge that will have a lasting impact on health and wellbeing for patients. It is expected that this model will demonstrate a high level of influence on nurses in how they interact with patients on an individual basis and as a team. When nurses are able to break through patient walls and provide an environment where behavioral change is possible to improve health, this is an effective means of applying this theory to nursing-based practice and direct patient care.

For nurses who apply Pender’s model to the practice setting, it is important to address each of the metaparadigms of nursing theory in different ways in order to accomplish mutually beneficial goals and objectives in a positive and meaningful manner. To be specific, nursing practice objectives must be executed in a professional manner with a high level of consistency in order to be effective in meeting the goals and objectives of the practice setting, thereby maintaining a continuous approach to nursing care that promotes excellence and strength in communication, application, and knowledge. This reflects a need to explore the different dimensions of the nursing profession and what is required to meet the desired objectives, while also balancing the needs of patients in a timely and effective manner at all times.

Nurses must also take cues from the surrounding environment, which includes a patient’s overall experiences and level of understanding of his or her surroundings and how they impact their health in different ways (Bender & Feldman, 2015). There must be a successful strategy in place to explore the environment and how it impacts patient health, given the dimensions of this setting and what is necessary to facilitate effective treatment results (Bender & Feldman, 2015). Therefore, the delivery of patient care and treatment must be based upon cues and perspectives from the surrounding environment and how to administer patient care and treatment effectively and consistently (Bender & Feldman, 2015).

The person and health must be aligned so that there is a level of cooperation that will be effective in supporting optimal recovery and a positive and healthy dynamic. Under these conditions, it is necessary for nurses to effectively adapt to change and to be mindful of the issues that will impact health in different ways. It is important for the patient as a person to receive the care and treatment that is required to preserve health and to optimize the conditions under which patients are able to thrive. These factors will demonstrate a commitment to nursing-based care and treatment that supports the preservation of patient care quality as best as possible.

As a nursing professional, I must adopt a number of different perspectives to the practice environment in order to meet the goals and expectations that have been established. This reflects a need to explore the dimensions of nursing practice that will have lasting benefits for patients and which will encourage patients to modify their behaviors as necessary to improve their health. Health promotion is an essential component of all cultures and population groups; therefore, I must be prepared to apply this model to a variety of areas of the practice setting in order to accomplish the desired objectives in care and treatment. At the same time, I must be able to support the objectives of the model in advancing the needs of the patient population and in facilitating effective results that will have a lasting impact on patient health and wellbeing.

As a healthcare professional, I must embody the core values and beliefs of the nursing profession in a positive manner that will have a lasting impact on patient wellbeing. This includes the application of the model to patients with chronic illnesses, as this is a critical factor in their development and the expectations that are derived from this model (Chan, Chiu, Bezyak, & Keegan, 2012). The model must reflect a greater understanding and acknowledgement of nursing practice as a critical component of meeting patient needs, assessing the surrounding environment, and in making decisions that will positively impact the patient care setting (Raingruber, 2012). There must be a significant emphasis on the development of a framework to improve the health of all patients that is grounded in promoting positive behaviors that will translate into healthy outcomes at a high level (Raingruber, 2012).

Finally, as a professional nurse, my application of the theories and principles that I have learned through my coursework will demonstrate my grasp of the material and how this knowledge impacts my professional career goals and objectives. I strive to understand patient needs more effectively and to recognize patterns of care and treatment that could have a positive impact on their health, including the application of Pender’s model to their situations. This will impact the ability to make decisions on behalf of patients in a manner that is consistent with the objectives of the nursing profession and the overall understanding of ideas and frameworks to impact patient health through behavioral interventions, relationship development, and other tools that will improve health and wellbeing at a high level at all times.

References

Bender, M., & Feldman, M. S. (2015). A Practice Theory Approach to Understanding the Interdependency of Nursing Practice and the Environment: Implications for Nurse-Led Care Delivery Models. Advances in Nursing Science, 38(2), 96-109.

Chan, F., Chiu, C. Y., Bezyak, J. L., & Keegan, J. (2012). Introduction to health promotion for people with chronic illness and disability. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 56(1), 3-6.

Current Nursing (2012). Models of nursing care delivery. Retrieved from http://currentnursing.com/nursing_theory/models_of_nursing_care_delivery.html

Hendricks, K. (2015). Analysis of Pender’s Health promotion model. Retrieved from https://otterbein.digication.com/kathryn_hendricks_rn_msn_npbc/Application_of_Theory_Research

Nursing Planet (2012). Health promotion model. Retrieved from http://nursingplanet.com/health_promotion_model.html

Pender, N. J. (2011). Heath Promotion Model Manual. Petiprin, A. (2015). Health promotion model. Retrieved from http://www.nursing-theory.org/theories-and-models/pender-health-promotion-model.php

Raingruber, B. (2012). Health education, health promotion, and health: What do these definitions have to do with nursing. Contemporary Health Promotion in Nursing Practice, 1-24.

Syx, R.L. (2008). The practice of patient education: the theoretical perspective. Orthopaedic  Nursing, 27(1), 50-54.

University of Michigan School of Nursing (2015). Nola J. Pender. Retrieved from http://nursing.umich.edu/faculty-staff/nola-j-pender