‘Wellness ambassadors’ aim to boost health

THERE are a variety of different nursing roles which all aim to support and improve the public’s health. Here, Diane Powles and Louise Lidbury from the Royal College of Nursing in Wales explain the different job titles in more detail

PIVOTAL to any nurse’s role is health promotion and health education. For us as nurses, we aim to maximise health, wellbeing, independence and the capacity to take selfresponsibility.

We assume the role of ambassadors of wellness through life.

Investment in your own health significantly reduces the risk of developing ill-whealth.

In 2002 the World Health Organisation reported that mortality, morbidity and disability attributed to major chronic diseases accounted for almost 60% of all deaths.

By 2020 chronic diseases is expected to rise to 73% of all deaths and 60% of the global burden of disease.

Moreover, 79% of the deaths attributed to these diseases occur in the developing countries.

So what does this mean for you? The answer may be found by accessing your primary and community nurses, where they can provide you with plenty of help, advice and guidance to support and signpost you to the help you need.

Primary and community nursing teams include the specialisms of general practice nurse, district nurse, health visitors, community children’s nurses, school nurses, community learning disabilities nurses and community mental health nurse.

For example, general practice nurses (GPN) can provide you with advice on smoking cessation.

GPNs have advanced professional knowledge and skills and care for all members of the family, young and old. This is especially important for families where parents are smokers.

Evidence indicates that three out of four children are aware of their parents smoking by the age of five and 6% of secondary school children report smoking once a week.

If GPNs help one family member they may end up helping them all.

Another example of health promotion is during flu season.

All of us are exposed to infections within our communities and many of us try to boost our immune systems by getting ourselves vaccinated.

For housebound people it can be especially difficult getting this sorted. District nursing teams can assess, plan, prescribe and provide treatment for the young and the old who find themselves house bound.

District nurses also provide services to those living in care homes.

Health visitors are registered nurses or midwives who specialise in public health nursing.

They provide advice to families, groups and communities, based on best evidence of what works for individuals, enhancing health and reducing health inequalities.

School nurses work across education, health and social care to improve the health and wellbeing of children and young people.

They work with families and young people from five to 19 years old and are usually linked to a school or group of schools.

School nurses have played a pivotal role in helping to reduce teenage pregnancy.

Data produced by the Office for National Statistics (2015) revealed that rates have dropped to the lowest level since statistics were first produced in 1969. Community learning disability nurses help people of all ages with learning disabilities to maintain their health and wellbeing and to live their lives as fully and independently as possible.

This includes teaching people the skills to look after themselves, to develop social skills, to find work, and helping with daily activities such as attending college, going on holiday or out with friends.

Community mental health nurses provide support to people experiencing mental illness and additionally promote good mental health.

This involves helping people to recover or to come to terms with the illness in order to lead a positive life.

They function as part of a multidisciplinary team which includes psychiatrists, psychologists, occupational therapists, GPs, social workers, voluntary sectors and others.

All primary and community nurses work as cohesive teams, together with other health and social care practitioners to provide you with effective and efficient care, to maximise your health and wellbeing.

If you want to help people help themselves toward being fit and well and feeling good contact your local primary and community nursing teams or local health board forums.