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Medical-Surgical Nursing

Introduction

Medical-Surgical NursingIntroduction
A photograph of a nurse examining a patient’s arm.
Figure 3.1 Nurses have an obligation to promote health to all members of their patient population. Patient education and health-promotion activities are important to improve the health for all members of society. (credit: Sgt. Ashley Tsoi/U.S. Air Force/TRICARE Newsroom, Public Domain)

Chapter Outline

3.1 Health Promotion and Wellness
3.2 Strategies for Improving Healthy Habits
3.3 Challenges Throughout the Lifespan
3.4 Purpose of Health Education and Patient Teaching
3.5 Strategies for Optimal Patient Education

Health promotion and patient education may be the most important interventions that nurses perform for patient care. Promoting optimal health one patient at a time can effectively and efficiently decrease the rates of health-care problems and improve the quality of life for individuals, which leads to improvement of large groups or the population as a whole. Patient education affects health-care outcomes because it gives the patient the information they need to understand why and how to achieve their health and wellness goals. Nurses must elevate the importance of health promotion and patient education in their clinical practice at all stages of life.

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