Health Promotion Theory

Theory Based Exemplary Article: Implementing Pender's Health Promotion Theory into the Post Partum Setting
Kim Freitas
Liberty University
NURS 502
Dr. Kim Little
October 7, 2012

Abstract
As a medical professional it is important to impact the patient population in such a way as to treat the condition in which they are seeking attention for, educate the patient on how to care for the condition, along with treatment options and curing factors. In an effort to prevent disease processes or conditions it is important to teach the community at large health promoting behaviors. This is exactly what Nora Pender sought out to do. She realized that the patients she encountered were being treated after a diagnosis, but nothing was being done…show more content…
Nola Pender began to develop the Health Promotion Theory early in her nursing career around 1982. She began to notice that health care was provided after a devastating diagnosis, but nothing was done prior to a diagnosis as prevention. She began to research the amount of money that could be saved as a result of prevention as opposed to treatment and began the development of the Health Promotion Theory. She completed a revision in 1996 due to current research and changes in the theoretical perspectives. The revision was able to focus on specific behaviors and their potential outcomes, for instance the prevention of skin cancer with the use of sun screen (Pender,…show more content…
Using Pender's Health Promotion Theory is a great way to implement education in the care of patients. Education, treatment and prevention of diseases and/or their co-morbidities are the foundations of nursing practice. The current standards are encouraging education and prevention as a means to save money individually by the patient, by the hospitals, by the state, and nationally. With health care reform at the forefront of everyone's mind prevention and health promotion is of the utmost importance.

References
American Heart Association Website. (2012). http://www.heart.org/idc/groups/heart-public/@wcm/@adv/documents/downloadable/ucm_316992.pdf
McEwen, M., & Wills, E. M. (2011). Theoretical basis for nursing (3rd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health.
Pender, N. J. (1996). Health promotion in nursing practice (3rd ed.). Stamford, CT: Appleton & Lange Stamford.
Pender, N. J. (2011). The health promotion model manual. Retrieved from http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/85350/1/HEALTH_PROMOTION_MANUAL_Rev_5-2011.pdf
Shelly, J. A., & Miller, A. B. (2006). Called to care: A christian worldview for nursing (2nd ed.). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity