Class 5 Unit 7 Comment 1

Thing to Remember:

Answer this discussion with opinions/ideas creatively and clearly. Supports post using several outside, peer-reviewed sources.

1 References, find resources that are 5 years or less

No errors with APA format 6 Edition

To Comment:

Working in a clinical alongside many different types of patient a NP would come across a lot of different medical situation & diseases.  But many of these situation and disease may all have something in common and that is the patient nutrient, exercise and stress management lifestyle.  According to Edelman, Kudzma, and Mandle (2015) diet and obesity have an indirect and direct link to several diseases like coronary heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetic mellitus.  Two in three Americans adults and one in three children are either overweight or obese.  

Working with clients about their eating and nutrition habits first would be essential.  As there NP we need to learn what their goals are and what they want from this new lifestyle change.  There is this great website from the United States Department of Agriculture that has so many learning, resources and educational links ranging from food fact tip sheets to children food fact fun games.  For example as a professional NP we can print off various tips/educational food facts in English or Spanish for our clients that do not have access to computer, but still want to learn and help change their nutritional lifestyle (United States Department of Agriculture, 2017).  Working with kids there is a whole section just for kids that have little fun food games and exercises.  

Exercise or choosing to become more active is a lifestyle change that is a must for most if not all Americans.  "People who exercise regularly, or who include physical activity in their daily routine feel better mentally and physically, improve their health profiles, and safeguard their functional independence as they go through the aging process" (Edelman, Kudzma, and Mandle, 2015, p. 265).  Working with clients about their exercise fitness goal really depends on the disease they may have.  A client with heart disease and arthritis may not be able to participate in a cardio jumping class, but loves to walk.  As a NP we need to help find that middle ground.  We need to find out what would work with the patient plus discuss their physical activity abilities.  Are they able to walk safely in their own neighborhood?  Can they find a group to walk with?  Most local YMCA or recreation centers have outdoor & indoor walking paths for the community.  Can the client utilize them?  For example the city of Vandalia has 11 parks some with walking paths.  The community has adopted a park watch program along with the police patrols them regular (Vandaliaohio.org, 2015).  Is my client within his or her social and economic lifestyle able to access a nearby park, so they can increase their physical activity?

Stress management for my client would really depends on what he or she perceives as stress and what are their current coping mechanism.  As a NP working with my client to find ways that would help them managed with everyday stress would be the key to overall better health.  According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2015) stress can range from feeling emotional or nervous about a life event to trouble sleeping or eating well.  The one thing CDC recommends is take care of yourself.  Which to me brings us back to better nutrition and exercise or physical activity lifestyle.  If my client does not have a well balance lifestyle then this will only increase his or her stress.  As a NP helping with the disease management would also involve couching or educating about lifestyle change and mentoring them through these lifestyle changes.

Thanks Melissa

Reference

Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2015). Coping with stress. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pub/coping_with_stress_tips.html

Edelman, C.L., Kudzma, E.C., Mandle, C.L. (2015). Health promotion throughout the life span (8th ed.). Missouri, St. Louis: Elsevier Inc. 

United States Department of Agriculture. (2017). Main page. Retrieved from https://www.choosemyplate.gov/