Health Promotion - Answers The process of enabling people (individuals, families, communities, and
populations) to increase control over, and improve their health. It is behavior motivated by a personal
desire to increase well-being and health potential.
Wellness - Answers An active, positive state of health of an individual, family, or community. It is
multi-dimensional, encompassing physical, mental, spiritual, social, occupational, environmental,
intellectual, and financial aspects.
Disease Prevention - Answers Behaviors motivated by a desire to avoid illness, detect illness early,
and manage illnesses when they occur.
Wellness and wellbeing components - Answers Physical: Genetic, age, developmental level, race, and
biological sex.
Environmental: Housing, sanitation, climate, pollution, and safe food/water accessibility.
Sociocultural: Economic level, lifestyle, family, culture, and love/belonging needs.
Intellectual & Spiritual: Cognitive abilities, past experiences, religious/spiritual beliefs, and self-
actualization needs.
Emotional: The mind, stress, emotions, and self-esteem needs.
Levels of Prevention - Answers Primary, Secondary, Tertiary
Primary Prevention - Answers Intervening before health effects occur. Directed toward promoting
health and preventing disease development. Examples: Immunization clinics, family planning,
accident prevention education, and altering risky behaviors (poor eating, tobacco use).
Secondary prevention - Answers Focuses on screening for early detection of disease to identify
illness, reduce its severity, or provide a cure. Examples: Regular medical/dental exams, BP checks,
mammograms, and lipid screenings.
Tertiary prevention - Answers Occurs after a disease is diagnosed. The goal is managing the disease to
slow progression, reduce disability, and rehabilitate the patient to maximum functioning. Examples:
Chemotherapy, rehabilitation, teaching to prevent complications, and monitoring response to
therapy.
Childhood prevention examples - Answers Vaccines, lead and anemia, screentime, safety(outdoor
and internet), obesity
Adolescence Prevention examples - Answers vaccines, obesity, cholesterol, diabetes, hypertension,
Safety(vehicle, sex practices, internet)
Adulthood Prevention examples - Answers Vaccines , obesity, chronic diseases, oral health
Older adult - Answers Vaccines, chronic diseases, safety, oral health
Modifiable risk factors - Answers Things that can be changed, such as diet, smoking, alcohol intake,
physical activity, and living circumstances.
Non modifiable risk factors - Answers Things that cannot be changed, such as genetics, age, biological
sex, and race/ethnicity.
Prevention framework - Answers Individual prevention - health screening, personal eduacation,
family values, developmental stages
Local prevention- extends beyond individual, local community actions to prevent or reduce illness and
disease, community education, zoning laws
State prevention- promote both local and federal prevention efforts, inspections or regulation at food
establishments, swimming pools, heart disease and stroke prevention programming
National prevention- policies that establish programming to reduce exposure to harmful
environmental agents, Clean Water act, National Tobacco control
Physical activity recommendations - Answers Preschool (3-5) - active throughout the day with
opportunities for active play
Kids (6-17) - 60 mins or more physical activity a day
Adults- 150 mins each week and muscle strengthening 2 days per week
Activity tolerance - Answers A vital indicator of physical fitness. Nurses should assess by collecting
baseline vital signs, having the patient perform an activity (e.g., ambulating), and repeating vital signs
immediately after and 3 minutes post-activity. A decrease in O2 saturation or complaints of
dizziness/chest pain require stopping the activity and escalating care.
Imbalanced nutrition - Answers Obesity and being overweight increase the risk for cardiovascular
disease, type 2 diabetes, and shortened life expectancy. Nurses should assess BMI, waist
circumference (males >40 in, females >35 in indicates higher risk), and access to healthy foods.
, Overweight VS obese - Answers BMI 25-29.9 is overweight, BMI 30+ is obese
> 95th percentile is obese in children
Obesity is an epidemic (CDC 2022)
Motivational Interviewing - Answers A patient-centered communication approach used to support
behavior change.
Core principles: Express empathy, avoid arguing, roll with resistance, and support self-efficacy.
Effective approach: Use open-ended questions like, "What feels realistic for you this week?". Ask
permission before giving advice.
Illness - Answers An abnormal process in which any of the person's physical, emotional, intellectual,
social, or spiritual functioning is compromised or altered compared to their previous state. Alteration
in persons body function, altered homeostasis
Acute Illness - Answers - sudden stuffy nose, COVID, pneumonia
-Severe symptoms with a short duration. Symptoms appear abruptly and subside quickly, usually
allowing a return to a normal level of wellness.
Chronic illness - Answers Lasts for an extended period (usually 6+ months or for life). Characterized
by a slow onset, periods of remission (symptoms disappear), and periods of exacerbation (symptoms
reappear).
-COPD, hypertension, crohns, ALS
Stages of illness behaviors - Answers 1. Symptoms: Recognizing altered health.
2. Sick Role: Assuming the identity of being ill.
3. Dependence Role: Accepting care and relying on healthcare providers/family.
4. Recovery & Rehab: Returning to baseline or adapting to a new normal.
Trajectory of chronic illness - Answers The course of a chronic disease moves through specific phases:
Pretrajectory (preventive phase), Trajectory onset (signs/symptoms present), Crisis (life-threatening),
Acute (requires hospitalization), Stable (symptoms controlled), Unstable (symptoms not controlled
but no hospitalization needed), Downward (progressive deterioration), and Dying.
Respiratory examplars - Answers 1. Pneumonia (Acute)
Pathophysiology: Inflammation of the alveoli resulting from infection. Causes edematous mucosa,
increased secretions, and impairs gas exchange.
Signs & Symptoms: Sudden chills, high fever, dull chest pain (especially when breathing deep),
shortness of breath, tachypnea, and productive cough with rust-colored, foul-smelling sputum.
Nursing Interventions: Administer antibiotics (if bacterial), antipyretics, and oxygen. Encourage
coughing/deep breathing, maintain hydration to thin secretions, and enforce rest.
2. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease / COPD (Chronic)
Pathophysiology: Chronic inflammation causes narrowing of airways, decreased elastic recoil, and
hyperinflation of the lungs. Airflow is permanently limited/obstructed.
Signs & Symptoms: Chronic cough, dyspnea (even at rest), weight loss, fatigue, barrel chest, and
assuming a leaning-forward position using accessory muscles.
Nursing Interventions/Education: Smoking cessation is paramount. Educate on safe home oxygen
use, medications (inhalers, bronchodilators, steroids), and specialized breathing techniques:
Diaphragmatic Breathing: Breathe in through the nose (abdomen protrudes), out through pursed lips.
Pursed-Lip Breathing: Prolongs exhalation to reduce trapped air (inhale for 3 counts, exhale through
pursed lips for 7 counts).
Gastrointestinal Exemplars - Answers 1. Appendicitis (Acute)
Pathophysiology: Inflammation/infection of the appendix leading to ischemia.
Signs & Symptoms: Right lower quadrant (RLQ) pain, nausea/vomiting, low-grade fever, and rebound
tenderness (pain upon release of deep palpation).
Nursing Interventions: Prepare for emergent surgery (appendectomy). Position in high Fowler's, place
IV for fluids, and post-operatively encourage ambulation and use of an incentive spirometer.
2. Crohn's Disease (Chronic)
Pathophysiology: Inflammation and abscesses causing ulceration of the GI tract. Characterized by
"cobblestone" intestinal surfaces and fissures.