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Health is not merely the absence of disease. Health is the presence of total well-being. Well-being
includes physical, mental, social, and spiritual aspects of the person. The healthcare system is
constantly developing into a health promotion model with a focus on wellness, prevention, and
health maintenance. Nurses have the responsibility to share in health promotion and teach people
how to be well.
Adolescent Health
Genomics
Global Health
Healthcare-Associated Infections
Older Adults
Preparedness
Sleep Health
Share information about Healthy People 2020 in your practice setting, at health events, and
via professional and community publications.
Use Healthy People 2020 in your professional practice. The Healthy People 2020 site has
links to www.healthfinder.gov, a reliable gateway to health information for the public, as well
as links to leading health indicators
determining the reason for the patient visiting the healthcare provider;
recording the patients family history; and
patients from certain cultural groups consider direct eye contact disrespectful. Lack of eye
contact in other cultural groups is considered a sign of lying.
Space relates to the level of personal space in the health assessment process. It is important
to understand cultural practices of proximity during communication. It is also important to
note varying cultural beliefs of body movement, eye contact, and use of touch.
Social organizations address the patterns of cultural behavior. For instance, health-related
authority may rest with either the eldest male or eldest female within the family or community.
It is also necessary to understand the roles of various family members. Last, ethnicity is not
the only factor when considering culture. Geography, age, religion, gender, sexual
orientation, and socioeconomic factors in patients, families, and communities are integral to
an accurate patient health assessment and history.
Environmental control in health assessment refers to the control of the nature of the
surroundings. The environment may encompass health practices, values, and understanding
of health and illness.
It is imperative that the nurse consider cultural phenomena in the health assessment process. When
considering cultures in health assessment, a checklist would include the following:
Communication beliefs
Over the next few weeks, you will learn how to perform a health assessment, including the physical
examination that takes into account psycho-social-cultural considerations. Enjoy your journey!
D'Amico, D., &Barbarito, C. (2012). Health & physical assessment in nursing (2nd ed.). Upper
Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2010). Healthy People 2020. Retrieved from
http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/about/new2020.aspx