NRS 113: Perceptions of Health and Primary Health Care Reflection

This assignment is a critical reflection on the student's understanding of health, the principles of Primary Health Care (PHC), and Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) within the context of nursing. The essay begins with an introduction to PHC, emphasizing its role in promoting community health and well-being through equity, community participation, and inter-sectoral collaboration. It then explains the principles of PHC and the influence of social determinants like income, education, and environment on health outcomes. The student reflects on their personal definition of health, linking it to physical and mental well-being, and how their health decisions are influenced by factors like relationships and preventive measures. The reasoning section explores the nurse's role in understanding diverse health concepts and the impact of social determinants and PHC principles on health practices. The student reconstructs their understanding by highlighting the importance of nurses as patient advocates and the need to address social inequalities through strategic programs and community collaboration. The essay concludes with a reaffirmation of the significance of understanding SDH and PHC in empowering healthier communities, particularly for healthcare professionals like nurses, and a redefined meaning of health for the student and the community.

Running head: CRITICAL REFLECTION: PERCEPTIONS OF HEALTH
Subject: Introduction to Primary Heath Care.
Subject Code: NRS 113
Critical Reflection: Perceptions of Health
Lecturer’s Name: Lisa Speedie
Student Name: Punam Lama
Student Number: 11701625

Punam Lama Student ID: 11701625
1CRITICAL REFLECTION: PERCEPTIONS OF HEALTH
Introduction
The health care that is essential or necessary and is dependent on the socially accepted
and scientifically accepted technologies and procedures depicts the characteristics of Primary
Health Care. This system allows the accessibility of health care amenities almost the
community members. Primary health care allows individuals to offer whole-of-society based
approach in relation to well-being and health focussed at the preferences and needs of
individuals, communities and families. Primary Health Care, also termed as PHC involves the
promotional campaign for the well-being and for developmental areas of community. Primary
Health Care encircles cultural, political, economic and social determinants of well-being and
health, which are known as the social determinants of health (Guzys, Brown, Halcomb, &
Whiteland, 2018). The purpose of the paper is to discuss the understanding of the significance
amongst nurses in the role of principles of PHC and social determinants in health outcomes.
Reporting
Primary Health Care determines the practice of promoting healthy practices for the
motive of preventing community development and illness. The principles of Primary Health
Care include interconnection of equity, community participation, empowerment, inter-
sectoral collaboration and appropriate technological accessibility. Equity reflects the equal
share of heath care services for all members of a community despite of paying capability and
should be accessible to all (Clendon & Munns, 2018). Primary Health Care should be
promoted by the engagement of communities, families and individuals and should be the
responsibility of State and overall community members. The in-sectoral coordination depicts
the collaborative effort of various sectors like, food, education, housing and agriculture with
the motive of promoting primary health care (Apna, 2020). The community should be aligned
with adaptable technological functions based on the needs, acceptable amongst communities
and scientifically effective. The social determinants of Primary Health Care are, social

Punam Lama Student ID: 11701625
2CRITICAL REFLECTION: PERCEPTIONS OF HEALTH
conditions, resources and environment. Social condition like income, housing, education,
accessibility and employment influences health of multiple persons. The environment where
people are living, playing, working and learning influences a vast range of community
members’ perception and functioning of health and quality-of-life (Adler, et al., 2016). The
resources influence the perception about health as it involves constituents like safety,
education, emergency, health services, environmental and housing property. The principles of
Primary Health Care and the social determinants helps in investigating the factors that has the
ability of minimizing the potentiality of illness and if implemented effectively can contribute
in the improvement of overall well-being.
Relating:
My definition of Health involves the theory of overall well-being and cohesive
development of self rather than just concentrating on the overall development. I believe,
health determines the state where I experience complete physical and emotional well-being.
Being healthy for me does not only focus on the physical determinants but also demands the
mental well-being. Health should be determined accomplishing the optimal state of being.
Healthcare exists to help people maintain this optimal state of health. Health for me
represents the most significant resource for an accomplished life. Health for me does not only
associate with the capability of recovering from a disease but it depicts the complete well-
being without the high rate of potentiality to experience mental or physical illness. My
personal understanding about health determines my decisions related to health are surrounded
around the factors like positive relationship, environment and proper knowledge for learning
and implementing required preventive more than curative approach (Guzys, Brown,
Halcomb, & Whiteland, 2018). My health decisions also involve screening, healthy diet,
coping strategy for potential illness and investing efforts in exercising (Epperly, et al., 2019).
My health decisions revolves mainly around the practice of understanding the accessibility of

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3CRITICAL REFLECTION: PERCEPTIONS OF HEALTH
knowledge and facilities, which can not only cure a state of mental and physical health but
can aim at designing programs for raising awareness for a healthier way of sustaining life.
Reasoning:
The profession of nurse witnesses various concepts, aspects and perspective of health,
which are usually constituted in their diverse range of responsibilities from been working in
the medical centres, community health services, education and contributing to the public-
health approach. These roles and conscious efforts in the area of health frame the concept of
being a nurse or healthcare professional. I am aware of the significant role the social
determinants and fundamental principles play in the concept of health as the social
determinants such as cultural factors, social factors, behavioural factors and psycho-social
factors. These constituents contribute majorly on the aspect of health, both positively and
negatively. I believe being a nurse; I have recognized the significance of understanding the
target audience, on which a health program can be based upon. Understanding the past
experiences and encounter of target market also plays a crucial role in influencing the
approach of people in overall well-being. The principles of Primary Health Care and social
determinants influence the preferences or ability of the target audience in managing or
accessing health care facilities. The main motive of the health care system should be
incorporate the expectations of the target audience, which is influenced by the principles as
they require a healthy community requires equal, quality, empowered and engaged system of
well-being.
Reconstructing:
Nurses are the advocates for the patients’ health and well-being and should learn from
ways of accomplishing better health practices and opportunity of attaining a healthier
community. Understanding the principles of Primary Health Care and social determinants is
very crucial for nursing profession because it can guide the professional responsibility

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towards justifying the contribution (McMurray & Cooper, 2017).The awareness regarding the
social causes or issues, the awareness regarding social services centres and educational
programs for responding to the hindrances or blessings from the range of Social Determinants
of Health (Guzys, Brown, Halcomb, & Whiteland, 2018). The focus of a nurse should be
diligently directed towards the SDH for incorporating programs and contribution that can
enhance the value or respond to the challenges like food safety, social networks, status issues
and educational needs. Understanding SDH can also help in learning about the root cause for
illness (Butler, 2017). Understanding principles of Primary Health Care helps in learning the
criteria that can derive solution for identified challenges.
From this reflection, I will be able to look and assess beyond my patients, it will
enhance by awareness regarding the challenges of social inequalities in community and how
strategic program, professional learning and collaborative efforts of community can
transform the picture of individual and community health. I will collaborate with the local
council and help them in framing policies and amenity framework for deducing a healthier
society.
Conclusion
Therefore, it can be concluded from the paper that understanding on SDH and
principles of PHC can majorly contribute to the practice of framing and empowering a
healthier community. These knowledge areas especially contribute in the profession of
healthcare like nurses, who play a major role in creating health related programs. The
reflection on this area will help me understand the significance of empowerment and equity
in healthcare services and have guided a path for transforming the programs and approach to
a public-based approach, so that the profession of a nurse can be justified as well as I can
redefine the meaning of health for myself and community.

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References:
Adler, N. E., Cutler, D. M., Jonathan, J. E., Galea, S., Glymour, M., Koh, H. K., &Satcher, D.
(2016). Addressing social determinants of health and health
disparities. National Academy of Medicine, 1-16.
Apna.asn.au (2020).APNA's definition of primary health care nursing covers health, scope of
practice, primary health care, roles and settings. We also explore general
practice nursing and Phillips et al. six roles of the general practice nurse.
[Online] Retrieved from https://www.apna.asn.au/profession/what-is-primary-
health-care-nursing
Butler, D. (2017). Social determinants of health in primary health care planning: Robert
Graham Center Visiting Fellowship Report.
Clendon, J., &Munns, A. (2018). Community Health and Wellness: Principles of primary
health care. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Epperly, T., Bechtel, C., Sweeney, R., Greiner, A., Grumbach, K., Schilz, J., ... & O'Connor,
M. (2019). The shared principles of primary care: a multistakeholder initiative
to find a common voice. Family medicine, 51(2), 179-184.
Guzys, D., Brown, R., Halcomb, E. & Whitehead, D. (2018). An Introduction to Community
and Primary Health Care. Melbourne: Cambridge University Press
McMurray, A., & Cooper, H. (2017). The nurse navigator: An evolving model of
care. Collegian, 24(2), 205-212.