SECTION I. BASIC HUMAN NEEDS AND PRINCIPLES OF HEALTH

Health is one of our most precious possessions. The preservation of health is met through the satisfaction of our basic human needs. Understanding the basic needs of people, therefore, is essential for the practical nurse in planning for and meeting the needs of the patient.

1. An individual's concept of health is a very personal thing. One person may consider himself to be healthy whenever he is not physically ill, while another may consider himself to be healthy only when he is emotionally and physically "at his best." A person's notion of health is influenced by a number of different factors or experiences, such as family background, self-concept, religion, past experiences, and socioeconomic status. It is important that you, as a practical nurse, keep this in mind when dealing with your patient's, as well as your own, feelings and interactions.

2. For purposes of this subcourse, we will define health as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

1. Social health. A sense of responsibility for the health and welfare of others.

2. Mental health. A mind that grows, reasons, and adjusts to life situations.

3. Emotional health. Feelings and actions that bring one satisfaction.

4. Spiritual health. Inner peace and security in one's spiritual faith.

The individual's state of health is one of continual change. He moves back and forth from health to illness and back to health again. His condition is rarely constant. He may wake up feeling great, develop a headache mid-morning, and feel fine again by noon. The health-illness continuum (see figure 1-1) illustrates this process of change, in which the individual experiences various states of health and illness (ranging from extremely good health to death) that fluctuate throughout his life.

Figure 1-1. The health-illness continuum.

As we previously stated, health, just as life itself, is a process of continual change. And we must continually adapt to these changes in our lives in order to maintain good health and well-being. It is our adaptation or response to that change, rather than the change itself, that affects our health. For example, two students just found out about a big test tomorrow, for which they are completely unprepared. One student responds to this stressful situation (stressor) by going home, getting his books out, and starting to study. The other student breaks out into a sweat, and spends most of the evening fretting over this outrage and imagining what will happen to him if he doesn't pass the test. No doubt, this student is doing more damage to his health than is his friend. And, considering the time and energy he is expending on worrying (and not studying), he may experience even more stress when they receive their grades!

Adaptation and effective functioning, even in the presence of chronic disease, can be considered a state of wellness. A person may be in perfect physical condition, but feel too tired and "blue" to go to work, while his co-worker, a diabetic, is at work, functioning fully and accomplishing his job. Which of these two people is at a higher level on the health-illness continuum?

The individual's state of health is determined by the ability to adapt to changes in the following dimensions:

• Developmental--changes in a person's behavior and ability, which are associated with increasing age.

• Psychosocial--the development of the personality, social attitudes, and skills.

• Cultural--changes in or development of beliefs and values held by the individual's family or culture.

• Physiological--changes in body function.

Regardless of one's definition of health, the individual who practices the following positive health habits on a regular basis is certainly at an advantage.

• A balanced diet with adequate caloric intake.

• Efficient elimination.

• Regular exercise.

• Adequate sleep, rest periods, and relaxation periods.

• Regular medical checkups.

• Regular dental checkups.

• Maintenance of good posture.

• Good grooming habits.

The Brookside Associates Medical Education Division  is dedicated to the development and dissemination of medical information that may be useful to medical professionals and those in training to become medical professionals. This website is privately-held and not connected to any governmental agency. The views expressed here are those of the authors, and unless otherwise noted, do not necessarily reflect the views of the Brookside Associates, Ltd., any governmental or private organizations. All writings, discussions, and publications on this website are unclassified.

© 2007 Medical Education Division, Brookside Associates, Ltd. All rights reserved

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