Critical Thinking about Health and Fitness - Essay Example

?CRITICAL THINKING QUESTION Health and fitness are regarded as the pre-requisite elements of human life, for the performing and observing of all tasks and obligations are directly dependent of sound mental and physical condition. Hence, health is equally significant for the fulfilment of individual and domestic needs on the one hand, and for the accomplishment of professional and collective tasks on the other. It is therefore the government and political authorities make policies, introduce healthcare programmes for the public, and establish hospitals, dispensaries and healthcare centres as well at district, local and community levels in order to keep the masses healthy, energetic and vigorous. The modern societies particularly lay stress upon regular medical check-ups and professional medical counselling for the masses; however, the families sometimes develop their personal health goals, in the light of the experiences of senior family members, as well as according to the counselling they have obtained from the medical advisors in past. However, the most important step towards determination of family health goals is hiring the services of a qualified professional nurse, which can provide a comprehensive fitness scheme for the adequate healthcare of the family. Thus, acting upon the wise counselling and professional schemes of the nurses serves as the best way to maintain health and fitness of the entire family. Since nurses are the qualified medical attendants, their prudent guidance regarding diet and exercise, keep the family away from illness. Nursing is a highly significant profession, and the nurses pay their duties in a systematic manner to resolve the issues related to healthcare. They put aside their own comforts and forget about their individual needs for the cause of others; it is therefore family healthcare is a far cry without seeking help from the nurses. “Nursing is a demanding profession that requires dedication. Nursing is not a 9 to 5 job because sometimes, you may be assigned to work the graveyard shift or extend beyond 8 hours of work especially when there are a lot of patients to attend to.” (Quoted in lifeinfozone.com) Hence, role of the nurses is vital in keeping the society in proper working. Consequently, almost all American and European families have obtained their services for children, adults and elderly alike. “The purpose and the reason for the nurse’s contact with the family guides the initial information collected about pertinent areas of family functioning. Initial information shared by the family will help guide the nurse in determining what other data to collect.” (Lundy & Janes, 2009: 752) It is also a reality that some families regard the advices made by the nurses as undue interference in their personal life. They are of the view that since nurses are unaware of the family diseases and inherited illness, they are unable to provide a wise counselling. Hence, instead of curing the individuals, they may make the case more complicated and serious. They act upon the advice of their heart and start taking diet and exercises of their own choice. Not only this that they do not consult medical specialists regarding diet etc, but also they get involved into self medication policy, which serious damages their heart, stomach and kidneys even, turning them frail and flimsy. “There are many people who are facing a wide variety of stresses, discouragements, disappointments and other events and situations that take an emotional toll on their lives. Sadly, many people feel there isn’t much they can do to help themselves, their loved ones or their business associates who are having a tough time. Or, they feel that medication is the only answer.” (evancarmichael.com) Hence, they become victim of the drug addiction. Consequently, regular medical check-ups by professionals is inevitable for the maintenance of life. One of the most initial steps taken towards the establishing of personal health goals is applying of regular medical check-up from family physician. “The best place to start when developing health and well-being goals is to get a physical check up from your doctor. He’ll then be able to tell you your risk factors and what aspects of your health you should focus on.” (achieve-goal-setting-success.com) Regular check-ups will be extremely supportive in respect of exploring even the slightest sign of any serious, dangerous or contagious disease including dehydration, cardiovascular ailment, hepatitis, aids and others. Moreover, the medical consultant can suggest diet and exercise in the light of the medical report of the patient. And if there appear symptoms of some infectious disease in patient, which include tuberculosis, hepatitis and others, he may suggest the patient to keep his eating articles separate from other family members in order to escape the spread of a contagious disease. Since families are well acquainted with the nature and history of diseases common in the members, they are in a position to elaborate it before the nurse in order to seek her counselling for the determining of personal health goals. For instance, if a child is under weight and weak in comparison with his coevals, the nurse would certainly suggest medical tests to discover the reasons behind his weakness. Somehow, the family can inform her regarding the presence of stomach disturbance in family; consequently, such disclosure of inherited ailment would be helpful in the treatment of the child. Similarly, the cases of diabetic and heart patients can also be handled in an apposite manner. Parents are well aware of the diet and preventions suitable and beneficial for the fitness of their children; but they are not qualified enough to suggest the same without consulting the medical advisor. Thus, their guiding the nurse makes it easy for her to take urgent decision during ailments. Qualified and experienced nurses provide a comprehensive diet and fitness charts, where the readings regarding the weight, height, blood pressure, diabetes level, temperature and ailment case history of the family is recorded. The exercises and food supplements are suggested by the nurses taking of which keep the family fit and healthy. A visionary and competent nurse is always compassionate and kind, and gives suggestions according to the best of her knowledge, which saves the healthy from becoming victim of diseases as well as in the convalescence process of the already sick people. They not only look at the apparent illness of the suffering patients, but also try to explore the mental and sentimental state of the ailing individuals. “It would be very hard to find a nurse who saw only the physical aspect of care as that which defines nursing. We all know that when a person is hurting emotionally, all sorts of physical ailments crop up. On the other hand, physical conditions can affect the mind and spirit.” (Hutchison, 1997: 4) Additionally, head of the family, usually father or husband, is stated to be responsible for the fitness and well being of the entire family, particularly the children, so if any untoward situation arises in children, he must look it in the pretext of the child’s past injury, wound or sickness as a child’s disease is generally related to any chronic injury. At this state of affairs, family nurse can also appear for the rescue to provide relief to the ailing child on the one hand, and the worried parents, disturbed because of the illness of child on the other. “Since the purpose of nursing is to promote health, healing, growth and development, and to prevent disease, illness, injury, and disability. When people become ill or disabled, the purpose of nursing is, in addition, to minimise distress and suffering, and to enable people to understand and cope with their disease or disability, its treatment and its consequences.” (Royal College of Nursing, 2003) Consequently, family health is directly dependent of the counselling provided by the family nurses and attendants. Moreover, nurses also play role in therapeutic treatment of the family. It is nurses, who provide physical exercises to the disable and injured patients. Physical therapists who deal with elderly persons must prepare themselves to recognise signs of abuse and neglect and to become familiar with existing intervention agencies and outlets for prevention. (1986: 2) Political authorities have established healthcare centres and institutions for the adequate look after of the aged people. In addition, private sector is also working efficiently in this field on non profit basis to provide them with care and supervision under a comfortable environment. Hence, the health improvement of the aged community is vital both for public and private health sectors. “Health improvement”, Koplan views, “is what public health professionals strive to achieve. To reach this goal, we must devote our skill -- and our will -- to evaluating the effects of public health actions.” (1999: 9) A therapeutic relationship”, Potter & Perry view, “develops over time, has an emotional connection, is a deliberate, planned professional nursing and psychoanalysis intervention and is reciprocal.” (1997:233). In other words, therapeutic relationship exists between clinical staff and individuals for the recovery of the latter to normal health situation. Professionalism in every department and inclusion of specialists in all areas has provided the individuals with opportunities of broad and comprehensive counseling related to both their private and professional life. The services of experienced professionals are sought out for the solution of problems and even while selecting the career and seeking medical cure. Trained counselors and practitioners help an individual, group of individuals and family members gain self-understanding and understanding of others in order to solve problems more effectively and resolve conflicts in everyday living. (Nugent, 1990:3) The developments in the fields of health and medical treatment are also noteworthy in this regard. As Nature has gifted man with countless capabilities of head and heart, which he applies to bring improvements in his health and fitness for leading calm and organized life, a variety of methods have been devised and plenty of techniques have been introduced for the mental and physical wellbeing of the people at large. Professional counseling and therapeutic devices are also the part of this process, which support individuals maintain their fitness and improve their health. Autogenic training is also one of these strategies and devices of utmost worth. To conclude, it becomes evident that the Individuals’ mind is a complex whole and maintains amalgamation of countless worries. These worries may haunt the mind especially in loneliness. It is therefore studies look for the company of individual’s favourite people where he can exchange his views and share the ideas prevailing in his heart and inducing his mind. Individuals may seek the persons and atmosphere of their own interest to be forgetful of the tensions haunting their minds. It is therefore there should be no hesitation while revealing the causes of stress to the therapist. The relationship between the counsellor and patient is one of the most important things in the rehabilitation process. And consulting with the egalitarian nurse certainly increases the probabilities of remaining healthy and fit. REFERENCES: Hutcherson, C., & Willamson, S. (1999). Nursing regulation for the new millennium: The mutual recognition model. Hutchison, Margaret G. 1997 Healing the Whole Person: The Spiritual Dimension Retrieved from http://members.tripod.com/marg_hutchison/nurse-4.html Koplan, Jeffrey P. (1999) Framework for Program Evaluation in Public Health: Recommendations & Reports (Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr4811a1.htm) Lundy, Karen Saucier & Janes, Sharyn 2009 Community Health Nursing: Caring For the Public's Health Jones & Bartlett Learning Publishers Nugent, Frank A. 1990 An Introduction to the Professional Counseling. Merrill Publishing Company. Columbus. P. Potter & A. Perry. 1997 Fundamentals of Nursing: Concepts, Process and Practice, (4t h edition) St. Louis, MO: Mosby Yearbook Your General Health Quoted in http://www.achieve-goal-setting-success.com/general-health.html Self Medication Quoted in http://www.evancarmichael.com/tags/self-medication.html Royal College of Nursing 2003 retrieved from http://www.rcn.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/78569/001998.pdf Read More

 

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