NRS 429V Week 1 Discussion 1 Using the health belief model, how can nurses encourage patients to make immediate and permanent behavior changes; particularly as they relate to lifestyle choices? Re: Topic 1 DQ 1

A nurse’s profession entails a large amount of patient education. Patients who receive education are better able to enhance their health. Assessment is the first step a nurse must take when teaching a patient. Because each patient has a unique learning style, educational level, values, and belief system, patient assessment is required. Nurses are also in charge of determining whether there are any learning barriers. Culture, health disparities, environmental, language, literary, and physiological barriers are only a few of them. (Whitney, 2018) A nurse’s purpose as a health educator is to educate individuals on how to make educated health decisions, avoid diseases, and promote health.

Nurse educators can work with an interdisciplinary team to create a personalized care plan for each patient. Assessing the readiness and motivation of the patient is a key tool for effective education. (Smith & Zsohar, 2013) The nurse educator should use tactics that will assist the patient gain more knowledge, feel less anxious, be more satisfied, and have better outcomes. (Roxanne, n.d.) Various successful approaches, such as computer technology, audio and videotapes, textual materials, and demonstrations, can be employed to attain these aims. Various instructional tactics that were employed in tandem were also beneficial. Furthermore, systematic, culturally relevant, and patient-specific instructions have been shown to be superior to ad hoc or generalized teaching. When a patient is willing to learn and change, behavioral objectives should be included in their treatment plan.

References

Whitney. (2018). Teaching and Learning Styles. In Health Promotion [Review of Teaching and Learning Styles. In Health Promotion].

Smith, J. A., & Zsohar, H. (2013). Patient-education tips for new nurses. Nursing, 43(10), 1–3. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.nurse.0000434224.51627.8a