Benchmark- Human Experience Across the Health-Illness Continuum

Benchmark- Human Experience Across the Health-Illness Continuum

Dr. John Travis was the first to introduce the health-illness continuum in 1972. Its premise is that a person’s health is in constant flux. A person will go from illness to health and will almost never be consistent. His illustration depicted this back-and-forth process, and we must constantly adapt to these changes in our lives to maintain good health and well-being. It is our adaptation or response to the change, not the change itself, that has an impact on our health (Nursing Fundamentals, 2015).

One of the major challenges we face as healthcare professionals is that it is frequently the focus of healthcare providers to treat acute conditions without following up, establishing a patient/provider relationship, or focusing on wellness and prevention (Nursing Fundamentals, 2015). The health-illness continuum focuses on six distinct components to which healthcare providers should try to direct patients’ attention. Physical health, emotional health, mental health, social health, environmental health, and spiritual health are the six components of personal health that must be considered when educating patients about the health-illness continuum (Lewis, 2018). These components can assist a patient and a healthcare professional in developing a tailored plan of care based on the patient’s needs and beliefs. The health-illness continuum illustration provides that link that helps a nurse and patient visualize a healthcare plan and provides a better understanding of how to achieve the goals that are developed.

My overall health is that of a healthy person. To relieve the stresses of life, I try to be active through CrossFit, eat a more plant-based diet with my husband, and participate in more outdoor activities. My daughter, who is a nutrition major in college, is always on us about what we should and should not do, so we try to follow her advice and incorporate it into our daily lives. I want to try to set a good example for my children by always learning more about nutrition and CrossFit and helping others grow. My husband and I usually have the wrestling team over on weekends, and we help them by providing cooking opportunities, exercise, and team building. It gives me a sense of giving back, which I believe benefits my overall health. Based on my lifestyle choices, I would place myself to the right of the health-illness continuum in either the education or growth areas.

Every community in the country has a wealth of resources to assist others in attaining a high level of health. Websites such as Go4Life, a National Institute on Aging (NIH) exercise and physical activity campaign, are designed to assist older adults in incorporating exercise and physical activity into their daily lives (National Institute on Aging at NIH, 2019). Another is the Move Your Way Campaign, which encourages physical activity in your neighbourhood. The Move Your Way Campaign was created to help the public understand key recommendations from the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 2019). The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health has created a website with nutritious and tasty meal ideas for children and adults. The website includes recipes, videos, and tips for preparing healthy family meals. Another useful resource is the MyPlate.gov website, which provides nutrition tips and resources based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. It explains how to incorporate healthy eating and physical activity into your daily life (USDA, 2019).

Those who wish to remain on the right side of the neutral zone must take charge of their health and surround themselves with others who wish to be in the same boat as them. It is entirely up to you to find others who can teach you about proper nutrition, exercise, and new ways to achieve your goals. It is safe to say that the Health Illness Continuum is an important part of assisting patients in understanding their level of health. It’s comforting to know that tools are in place to ensure patients’ optimal health and wellness. Your goal should be to move as far to the right on the continuum as possible.

References

Ancheta, Melquiades. (2015). Concept of Health, Illness and Wellness. 10.13140/RG.2.1.3150.2880.

A New Vision of Wellness. (2017). Retrieved from http://www.wellpeople.com/WhatIsWellness.aspx

Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (2019) Move Your Way Campaign Materials. Retrieved from https://health.gov/paguidelines/moveyourway/

Lewis, E. (2018). Understanding the Health Continuum: A Guide for Nurses. Retrieved from https://study.com/academy/lesson/understanding-the-health-continuum-a-guide-for- nurses.html

National Institute on Aging at NIH (2019). Go4Life. Retrieved from https://go4life.nia.nih.gov

Nursing Fundamentals (2015). The Health-Illness Continuum. Retrieved from https://brooksidepress.org/nursing_fundamentals_1/?page_id=115

USDA. (2019) ChooseMyPlate. Retrieved from https://www.choosemyplate.gov/

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The benchmark assesses the following competency:

Benchmark: 5.1. Understand the human experience across the health-illness continuum.

Research the health-illness continuum and its relevance to patient care. In a 750-1,000 word paper, discuss the relevance of the continuum to patient care and present a perspective of your current state of health in relation to the wellness spectrum. Include the following:

Examine the health-illness continuum and discuss why this perspective is important to consider in relation to health and the human experience when caring for patients.

Reflect on your overall state of health. Discuss what behaviours support or detract from your health and well-being. Explain where you currently fall on the health-illness continuum.

Discuss the options and resources available to you to help you move toward wellness on the health-illness spectrum. Describe how these would assist in moving you toward wellness (managing a chronic disease, recovering from an illness, self-actualization, etc.).

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA   Style Guide. An abstract or thesis is required.