Key Terms

at-risk population

includes individuals who face barriers to accessing healthcare services, have limited access to health care, or are marginalized (e.g., patients with disabilities, pediatric patients, older adults, individuals from underrepresented groups, people who are under- or uninsured, individuals with low incomes, immigrants, people experiencing housing insecurity, and those with mental health or substance use disorders)

becoming

an individual’s pursuit of personal growth and self-improvement, as well as their openness to new experiences and perspectives

befitting

taking proactive self-care strategies and personal responsibility to make personal choices to benefit one’s well-being

being

recognizing oneself as an individual and actively working to achieve a state of high-level wellness in all eight dimensions

belonging

the feeling of being accepted, valued, and supported by others, as well as the sense of belonging to a larger community or group

biomedical model

model of health that focuses on diagnosing and treating specific physical diseases or disorders using medical interventions such as drugs or surgery

change agent

nursing role that involves identifying areas for improvement in patient care and developing and implementing strategies to bring about positive change

collaborator

nursing role that involves working as part of a team with other healthcare professionals to provide coordinated and comprehensive care to patients

Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA)

a systematic process of identifying the health needs and priorities of a specific community

counselor

nursing role that involves providing emotional support and guidance to patients and their families who are experiencing health challenges

Dunn’s Theory of Wellness

also known as High-Level Wellness Model, defines wellness as an ongoing process of growth and development that encompasses all aspects of an individual’s life

emotional dimension of wellness

actions to increase self-awareness and self-regulation to manage emotions in a healthy and constructive way, including strategies to cope with stress and adversity and promote positive emotions

emotional health

an individual’s ability to manage and express their emotions, cope with stress, and experience positive emotions

empowerment

giving community members a voice and agency in a program’s decision-making processes

environmental dimension of wellness

actions to achieve a good relationship with the surrounding environment, including access to clean air and water and a safe and healthy living and working environment

environmental factors

physical, chemical, biological, and social factors that affect the quality of air, water, food, and the general environment

existential model

model of health that emphasizes the subjective experience of individual existence and the search for meaning in life

family-centered care

recognizing and respecting the role of the family in the pediatric patient’s care, including their preferences and priorities for their health decisions

financial dimension of wellness

actions to achieve financial stability to meet basic needs and experience a sense of financial security

governance for health

the process of developing and implementing policies, strategies, and actions that support and promote the health and well-being of individuals and communities

Health Belief Model

model of health that emphasizes the importance of an individual’s beliefs and attitudes in shaping health behaviors

health equity

when everyone has a fair opportunity to obtain optimal health

health outcomes

the measurable improvements in the health status of individuals and populations

Health Promotion Model

model of health that takes a holistic approach to health and wellness

Healthy Cities

a strategy that focuses on creating environments that support the health and well-being of their residents

hierarchy of needs

created by Abraham Maslow, a pyramid-shaped model that includes five levels of needs: physiological needs, safety needs, love and belonging needs, esteem needs, and self-actualization needs

holistic approach

addressing the whole patient to assess and treat all facets of the person

Holistic Health Model

comprehensive model of health that takes into account the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual aspects of health and wellness

human dimensions

facets of wellness that interrelate to demonstrate a comprehensive view of health; include emotional, physical, social, intellectual, and spiritual aspects of illness and wellness

humanistic model

model of health that focuses on the importance of the individual and their personal experience and emphasizes the need for patient-centered care that recognizes the unique needs and values of each patient

informatics implementor

a nurse who uses electronic health records (EHRs) and other health information technology (HIT) tools to manage patient data, monitor patient outcomes, and identify opportunities to improve care

inherent factors

the individual, nonmodifiable characteristics that can influence the risk of illness, which include genetics, age, and sex

intellectual dimension of wellness

actions to acquire new skills and generate new knowledge

intellectual health

individuals’ ability to acquire new skills, think critically, and engage in creative activities

leading health indicators

cohesive set of indicators of health and well-being across the life span, encompassing all aspects of health

levels of prevention

different stages or approaches that can be taken to prevent the occurrence of a health condition or disease

lifestyle factors

individual behaviors and habits that can influence the risk of illness, which include tobacco and alcohol use, poor diet, physical inactivity, and stress

medical models

approaches to understand and treat illness; view health as the absence of disease or illness and focus on identifying and treating physical symptoms and underlying medical conditions through medical interventions, such as medications, surgeries, and other medical procedures

models of health

conceptual frameworks that guide healthcare providers to understand and promote health

nursing models

conceptual frameworks that draw from other frameworks to guide nursing practice and provide comprehensive care to patients, emphasizing the importance of considering the whole person and taking a holistic approach to health and wellness

occupational dimension of wellness

actions to achieve job satisfaction, work–life balance, and personal growth and development

organizational health literacy

focuses on how an organization can help individuals find and use health information for themselves to make decisions about their health and wellness

patient advocate

nursing role that involves ensuring that patients’ needs and preferences are prioritized and that they receive appropriate care

personal health literacy

focuses on the ability of a single person to comprehend and use health information

physical dimension of wellness

actions to maintain individual’s physical health, including nutrition, exercise, sleep, and regular medical checkups

physical health

individual’s ability to perform daily activities, maintain healthy body weight, and prevent illness and disease

population health

the health outcomes of a group of individuals, including the distribution of those outcomes within the group

population involvement

the active engagement of communities and individuals in the design, implementation, and evaluation of programs and policies that affect their health and well-being

primary prevention

the first level of prevention that aims to avert the onset of a disease or health condition before it occurs

psychosomatic model

model of health that stands on the idea that psychological factors, such as emotions, beliefs, and personality traits, can have a direct impact on physical health

quality

the provision of evidence-based interventions and services that are effective, efficient, and responsive to the needs of the community

religious model

framework or system of beliefs that serves as a guide for individuals or communities to understand and relate to a higher power or spiritual reality

respect

acknowledging and valuing the perspectives, needs, and experiences of the community members who are being served

secondary prevention

the second level of prevention that aims to detect and treat a disease or health condition in its early stages to prevent complications and progression

social determinants of health (SDOH)

conditions associated with birth, childhood, education, work, play, worship, and aging that impact health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes

social dimension of wellness

actions to maintain healthy and positive relationships with others, including utilization of communication skills and social support to achieve a sense of belonging

social health

individuals’ ability to participate in social activities, interact with others, and experience a sense of belonging and connection

spiritual dimension of wellness

actions to achieve personal values, including reinforcement of beliefs and practices that promote inner peace, happiness, and fulfillment

spiritual health

individuals’ ability to achieve personal values

tertiary prevention

the third level of prevention that aims to manage and treat the complications of a disease or health condition to prevent disability or death

transpersonal model

model of health that proposes that beyond the adult ego, there are developmental stages that involve experiences of connectedness with phenomena considered outside the boundaries of the ego

Vulnerable Populations Footprint (VPF)

a tool that can be used for community health needs assessment, specifically to identify the most at-risk populations within a community