Abstract
Current models of health are inadequate to meet nursing education and healthcare needs related to the growth in alternative health. Concepts of energy, holism, and balance expand the current health definition and provide conceptual understanding for mind-body and energy system strategies. As a result, nurses will increase alternatives for promoting health. Nurse educators have an exciting opportunity to be an integral part of this trend by providing a broader, more holistic definition of health.
Many models of health and related nursing strategies are inadequate to meet current nursing education and healthcare needs. The predominant model divides health into separate components (physical and mental), which is a Western idea developed prior to research showing the interdependence of mind and body. The typical focus on the physical aspects of health also constrains the view of health and health promotion strategies. For example, Americans often believe that the primary strategies for good health are limited to physical elements such as weight loss, exercise (the more the better), and smoking cessation.
In contrast, most healthcare practiced outside of the Western world suggests that balanced, free-flowing energy systems are responsible for health and homeostasis. 1 By adding concepts from non-Western perceptions of health, a more balanced definition of health is possible. Attributes of a healthy person could include: well-nourished; well-rested; resilient; of optimal physical, mental, and social function; having a sense of purpose; and maximal quality of life. By including these broader dimensions, clients may be more likely to seek health improvement in their lives, and nurses will have increased alternatives for teaching and promoting a healthy lifestyle.
Adding non-Western ideas to the models of health used in schools of nursing will enhance global and multicultural viewpoints, increase effective nursing strategies, and allow students to see more than one approach, an essential element of critical thinking. A broader definition of health will be relevant to more clients in increasingly diverse populations and will be essential for optimizing health outcomes and evidence-based strategies. Students must know what strategies are effective in promoting health and giving clients more alternatives to be successful and satisfied.