Nurses as Models for Mental, Physical, and Spiritual Health

Nurses have a leading role in health promotion including on areas such as diet and lifestyle changes needed to reduce the risk of contracting various disorders. Recognizing such a responsibility implies that nurses have to be aware of their need to be models for healthcare. Irrespective of the negative state of health and habits predominant in the American society, nurses need to act as role models for mental, physical and spiritual health for them to be the foundation on which transformation in the population’s health may be founded.

Although Americans may tend to have lifestyles that lead to adverse outcomes such as being overweight and workaholic, and experiencing burnout, nurses ought not to disregard self-care since they have a special role in health promotion. Borchardt (2000) aptly notes this contending that for nurses to be effective health role models, they have to practice what they teach. As such, and as Borchardt (2000) further argues, the ability of nurses to meet the goal of nursing care, which is to facilitate the well-being of the patient, depends on the nurses “ability to practice self-care to the fullest extent” (p. 30). As such, irrespective of the current health state of the general population, by modeling the health lifestyles that they promote, nurses would be better positioned to act as agents of transformation in society.

Thoughts on the story of “Cracked Pots.”

The story of the cracked pots, depicted in Manning (2002), relates to role modeling in health. Most poignant about the story, is that it dispels the idealized perception of what role modeling should be. For instance, in a study by Rush, Kee and Rice (2005), the perception that a role model is perfect tended to make nurses feel threatened and uncomfortable thus being unable to engage in health promotion as a genuine activity that brings fulfillment. This is akin to the cracked pot that felt inadequate since it could not deliver its entire content due to spillage. However, after the illustration by the water bearer that the cracked pot had helped water the flowers on the path, which ultimately were used for decoration in the master’s table, the usefulness of the pot beyond the idealized use, to carry water, was reinforced. Similarly, in nursing care, rather than being disappointed for not being able to meet society’s expectations, one should be proud and work on improving aspects of health promotion that one can model effectively and be fulfilled with. In such a way, the nurse would be capable of achieving true fulfillment in his or her work and thus be more likely to become a better model for mental, physical and spiritual health.

References

Borchardt, G. L. (2000). Role models for health promotion: The challenge for nurses. Nursing Forum, 35(3), 29-32.

Manning, B. (2002). Ruthless trust: The ragamuffins path to God. New York, N.Y.: Harperone.

Rush, K. L., Kee, C. C., & Rice, M. (2005). Nurses as imperfect role models for health promotion. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 27(2), 166-183. doi:10.1177/0193945904270082