The Effect of Environment on Nursing and Health Promotion for Women

Abstract

Social reformer, author, and statistician, Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, championed the prevention and control of infection. Her seminal work on combatting unhealthy hospital environments with the use of fresh air, clean water, cleanliness, and light ( McDonald, 2012 McDonald L. Florence Nightingale and hospital reform. Wilfrid Laurier University Press, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada2012 Google Scholar ) laid the foundation for contemporary nursing practice. Based on Nightingale's vision and a holistic approach to care, the nursing paradigm promotes a framework to support health and prevent disease. The four concepts of the nursing paradigm, the individual, the environment, health, and nursing, provide the context in which to implement evidenced‐based interventions to reduce health risks for the individual. Within the nursing paradigm, the individual refers to the person in receipt of care, and this person may represent an individual, a family, or a community. Health refers to the degree of wellness or illness experienced by the person. Nursing refers to the actions, characteristics, and attributes of the individual providing care. Environment refers to the internal and external conditions, circumstances, and influences that affect the person ( Parker and Smith, 2010 Parker M.E. Smith M.C. Nursing theories and nursing practice. 3rd ed. F. A. Davis, Philadelphia, PA2010 Google Scholar ). Marilyn Stringer, PhD, WHNP, FAAN Associate Editor