Health and Wellness

Is focussed on wellness not sickness. Is focussed on prevention not just treatment of problems. Is focussed on assisting people and communities make their

own decisions regarding health care. Is focussed on assisting those with existing health conditions

to maximise their potential and prevent deterioration if possible.

Is based in the community in a range of settings, wherever there is a need for support, information and education.

Responds to public health needs in relation to communicable diseases.

Has the whole community as their client, as well as groups, families and individuals.

Recognises the impact of life course and social determinants of health and works in partnership with the community to address these.

The types of places in which community health nurses practice are increasingly varied and include a growing number of nontraditional settings and partnerships with nonhealth groups.

Employers of community health nurses range from state and local health departments and home health agencies to managed care organizations, industries, and nonprofit organizations.

homes, ambulatory service settings, schools, occupational health settings, residential institutions, parishes, the community at large.

For a long time, the most frequently used setting for communityhealth nursing practice was the home. In the home, all of the community health nursing roles are

performed:◦Clients who are discharged from acute care institutions, such as

hospitals or mental health facilities, are regularly referred to community health nurses for continued care and follow-up.

◦Here, the community health nurse can see clients in a family and environmental context.

◦ Service can be tailored to the clients’ unique needs

include a variety of venues for community health nursing practice in which clients come for day or evening services that do not include overnight stays.◦Community health centers◦Multiple clinics offering comprehensive services◦ Family planning clinics or a well-child clinics◦Day care centers, such as those for physically disabled or

emotionally disturbed adults◦Offices (for example, a community health nurse associated with a

health maintenance organization sees clients in the office and undertakes screening, referrals, counseling, health education, and group work.

Independent nursing agencies that practice by seeing clients in community nursing centers as well as making home visits.

Another type of ambulatory service setting includes places where services are offered to selected groups.◦ community health nurses practice in migrant camps,◦ through churches as parish nurses, ◦ in remote mountain and coal-mining communities

• Schools of all levels make up a major group of settings for community health nursing practice.

• Nurses from community health nursing agencies frequently serve private schools at elementary and intermediate levels.

• Public schools are served by the same agencies or by community health nurses hired through the public school system.

• The community health nurse may work with groups of students in preschool settings as well as in vocational or technical schools, junior colleges, and college and university settings.

• Specialized schools, such as those for the developmentally disabled, are another setting for community health nursing practice.

Business and industry provide another group of settings for community health nursing practice.

Community health nurses in occupational health settings practice a variety of roles:◦ The clinician role was primary for many

years, as nurses continued to care for sick or injured employees at work.

◦ However, recognition of the need to protect employees’ safety and, later, to prevent their illness led to the inclusion of health education in the occupational health nurse role.

◦ Occupational health nurses also act as employee advocates, assuring appropriate job assignments for workers and adequate treatment for job-related illness or injury.

Community health nurses are registered nurses whose practice specialty promotes the health of individuals, families, communities and populations, and an environment that supports health. They practice in diverse settings such as homes, schools, shelters, churches, community health centres and on the street. Their position titles may vary as much as their practice settings.

combines knowledge from primary health care (including then determinants of health), nursing science and social sciences focuses on prevention, health restoration, maintenance or palliation

focuses on clients, their designated caregivers and theirfamilies integrates health promotion, teaching and counseling inclinical care and treatment initiates, manages and evaluates the

resources needed for theclient to reach optimal well-being and function provides care in

the client’s home, school or workplace has a nursing diploma or a degree (a baccalaureate degree in

nursing is preferred)

combines knowledge from public health science, primary health care (including the determinants of health), nursing science and social sciences

focuses on promoting, protecting and preserving the health of populations

focuses on populations and links health and illness experiences of individuals, families and communities to population health promotion practice

recognizes that a community’s health is closely linked with

the health of its members and is often reflected first in

individual and family health experiences

Promoting health Building individual and community capacity Building relationships Facilitating access and equity Demonstrating professional responsibility and accountability

These standards are based on the values and beliefs of community health nursing, nursing knowledge and partnerships with people in the community. They apply to practice in all settings where people live, work, learn, worship and play.

Promoting health Building individual and community capacity Building relationships Facilitating access and equity Demonstrating professional responsibility and accountability

Community health nurses view health as a dynamic process of

physical, mental, spiritual and social well-being. Health includes

self-determination and a sense of connection to the community.

Community health nurses believe that individuals and

communities realize hopes and satisfy needs within their

cultural, social, economic and physical environments. They

consider health as a resource for everyday life that is influenced

by circumstances, beliefs and the determinants of health.

income and social status social support networks education employment and working conditions social environments physical environments biology and genetic endowment personal health practices and coping skills healthy child development health services gender culture

health promotion, prevention and health protection, health maintenance, restoration and palliation.

1. Collaborates with individual, community and other stakeholders to do a holistic assessment of assets and needs of the individual or community.

2. Uses a variety of information sources to access data andresearch findings related to health at the national, provincial,territorial, regional and local levels.3. Identifies and seeks to address root causes of illness and

disease.

4. Facillate planned change with the individual, community or population by applying the Population Health PromotionModel.

Identifies the level of intervention necessary to promote health. Identifies which determinants of health require action or change to

promote health. Uses a comprehensive range of strategies to address Health-related

issues.

5. Demonstrates knowledge of and effectively implements health promotion strategies based on the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion.

Incorporates multiple strategies: promoting healthy public policy, strengthening community action, creating supportive environments, developing personal skills and reorienting the health system.

Identifies strategies for change that will make it easier for people to make healthier choices… etc

Building capacity is the process of actively involving individuals, groups, organizations and communities in all phases of planned change to increase their skills, knowledge and willingness to take action on their own in the future. The community health

nurse works collaboratively with the individual or community affected by health-compromising situations and with the people and organizations that control resources. Starting where the individual or community is, community health nurses identify relevant issues, assess resources and strengths, and determine

readiness for change and priorities for action. They take collaborative action by building on identified strengths and involving key stakeholders such as individuals, organizations, community leaders. They work with people to improve the determinants of health and “make it easier to make the healthier choice.”

Community health nurses use supportive and empowering strategies to move individuals and communities toward maximum autonomy.

Community health nurses build relationships based on the principles of connecting and caring. Connecting involves establishing and nurturing relationships and a supportive environment that promotes the maximum participation and self-determination of the individual, family and community. Caring involves developing empowering relationships that preserve, protect and enhance human dignity.

Community health nurses build caring relationships based on mutual respect and understanding of the power inherent in their position and its potential impact on relationships and practice.

One of the unique challenges of community health nursing is building a network of relationships and partnerships with a wide variety of relevant groups, communities and organizations. These relationships happen within a complex, changing and often ambiguous environment with sometimes conflicting and unpredictable circumstances.

Community health nurses embrace the philosophy of primary health care. They collaboratively identify and facilitate universal and equitable access to available services. They collaborate with colleagues and with other members of the health care team to promote effective working relationships that contribute to comprehensive client care and optimal client care outcomes.

They are keenly aware of the impact of the determinants of health on individuals, families, groups, communities and populations. The practice of community health nursing considers the financial resources, geography and culture of the individual and community.

Community health nurses work with a high degree of autonomy when providing programs and services. Their professional accountability includes striving for excellence, ensuring that their knowledge is evidencebased and current, and maintaining competence and the overall quality of their practice. Community health nurses are responsible for initiating strategies that will help address the determinants of health and generate a positive impact on people and systems.

Wellness is a state of optimal well-being that is oriented toward maximizing an individual’s potential. This is a life-long process of moving towards enhancing your physical, intellectual, emotional, social, spiritual, and environmental well-being.

These six dimensions highlight important components of wellness. Take time to explore your own level of wellness and see if you have gotten “your dose of wellness” today!

Physical WellnessPhysical Wellness encourages regular physical activities, proper nutrition

and health care, such as exercise or sports, and personal hygiene. This type of physical activity discourages

dependence on tobacco, alcohol and other drugs (prescription or street).Emotional WellnessEmotional Wellness is having the ability to acknowledge and accept a

wide range of feelings in oneself as well as in others. It is being able to freely express and manage one's own feelings to develop positive self-esteem in order to arrive at personal decisions based upon the integration of one's attitudes and behaviors.

Spiritual Wellness Spiritual Wellness is the willingness to seek meaning and purpose in

human existence; being open to diverse multi-cultural beliefs and backgrounds. Being spiritually sound enables one to seek out the perfect harmony between that, which lies within one's own spirit as well as with outside forces that coexist.

Intellectual WellnessIntellectual Wellness is the strong desire to learn from

challenges and experiences. It encourages ongoing intellectual growth, and creative yet stimulating mental activities which provide the foundation to discover, process, and evaluate information.

Social WellnessSocial Wellness involves developing friendships, healthy

sexual behaviors, the ability to interact comfortably with others and generally works for harmony in personal and community environments.

Self Responsibility and Love are primary expressions of life energy. Together, they form the foundations of wellness, and encourage the free flow of all other types of energy. If either principle is weakened, living harmoniously becomes more difficult. When both are strong, energy dances back and forth and the crossing is easy.

Breathing is a primary energy input and plays a key role in promoting relaxation, centering the mind, calming emotions and increasing vitality.

Sensing is also an energy input, and enables us to effectively navigate our environment through the experience of light, heat, touch, sound, odor, taste and movement.

Eating fresh, whole foods in moderation is a primary means of nourishing ourselves and providing energy to support optimal living.

Moving is a basic expression of our life energy. Maintaining a balance of movement and rest is essential to our health and wellbeing.

Feeling and expressing emotions like fear, sadness, anger and joy serves to motivate both thought and action and acts as an internal guidance system.

Thinking can be our best friend or greatest enemy. Being mindful of our thinking enables us to make positive choices for personal wellbeing.

Working and Playing, in balance, supports our personal health and wellbeing and gives us the energy live optimally and perform at a high level.

Communicating allows us to share our internal reality of thoughts and feelings with others, allowing us to convey our wants and needs.

Intimacy is a major component in our health and happiness. The foundation of intimacy is trust, whether it’s a friend, relative or love interest.

Finding Meaning involves asking ourselves basic questions, such as Who am I? and Why am I here? Exploring these questions encourages a balanced and fulfilling life.

Transcending is the experience of “being in the flow,” of being fully awake and engaged in the present moment, connecting us to a deeper reality.

One on one contact with your patient or client.

Using your nursing skills and knowledge to really make a difference in someone's life.

Spending quality time with your patients and guiding them through the process.

Showing your true value and worth within the healthcare field.

Taking charge of your own future and living the life you always wanted, free of having to work holidays, nights and weekends.

Greater earning potential, make more money than you ever would as a staff nurse.

Developing a practice as a health and wellness nurse coach involves a huge shift, it’s a commitment that involves changing and setting new personal goals, but the benefits are well worth it.

When a patient or client has the added benefit of a wellness nurse coach on their side, they can be assured of more time devoted directly to their needs, to have their questions and concerns addressed, and a relationship of trust that builds over time.

Who better to help clients reach their full potential than a nurse who already has the clinical skills, knowledge of health and wellness and great communication skills. You as a nurse are in the best position to provide this service to those who need you.

As a health and wellness nurse coach you make a difference in someone's life, helping them to receive the recommendations, follow-up care and attention they deserve.

The opportunities for wellness nurses are endless in what you could specialize in.

You could specialize in diabetes management, cancer care, weight loss, healthy diet, cardiac disease management, etc.