Health: a basic concept in nursing theory.

Abstract

The concept of health is evolving over time. Traditional paradigms of health, with disease being the central focus, have emerged into complex, multidimensional models centering on a positive, holistic approach towards the phenomenon of health. The subsequent emphasis on health promotion has concomitantly affected the concept of nursing. The concept of health is a basic building block for nursing theory. How health is defined dictates how nurses should be educated and how they should practice. Incorporating the self-care model of nursing practice, health is conceived of as the effective functioning of self-care resources which ensure the operation and adequacy of self-care actions.