Introduction
This essay explores the interconnected concepts of person-centred care, public health, and human development within the context of nursing practice. Person-centred care is a fundamental principle in nursing, emphasising individual needs and preferences in healthcare delivery. Public health, on the other hand, addresses population-level health challenges, often through preventative strategies, while human development considers the broader lifelong process of growth and wellbeing. The purpose of this essay is to examine how these concepts intersect in nursing, their relevance to improving health outcomes, and the challenges associated with their implementation. The discussion will first outline each concept individually, then explore their integration in practice, supported by evidence from academic literature and authoritative sources. Finally, it will consider the implications for nursing education and practice in the UK context.
Understanding Person-Centred Care in Nursing
Person-centred care (PCC) is a cornerstone of modern nursing, focusing on treating patients as individuals with unique needs, values, and preferences rather than as mere recipients of care. According to McCormack and McCance (2017), PCC involves building respectful relationships, fostering patient autonomy, and ensuring that care is tailored to personal circumstances. This approach contrasts with traditional, paternalistic models of healthcare, where decisions were often made without patient input. In practice, PCC requires nurses to engage in active listening, empathy, and shared decision-making. For instance, when caring for an elderly patient with chronic conditions, a nurse might prioritise their wish to remain independent at home, adapting care plans accordingly.
However, implementing PCC is not without challenges. Time constraints, resource limitations, and organisational cultures in healthcare settings can hinder its application (Moore et al., 2017). Despite these barriers, evidence suggests that PCC improves patient satisfaction and health outcomes, particularly in managing long-term conditions such as diabetes or dementia (McCormack and McCance, 2017). Therefore, it remains a vital skill for nurses, necessitating ongoing training and systemic support within the NHS framework.
The Role of Public Health in Nursing Practice
Public health focuses on protecting and improving health at a population level through prevention, education, and policy interventions. In nursing, this translates to roles in health promotion and disease prevention, often within community settings. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) highlights that nurses are pivotal in public health initiatives, such as vaccination programmes, smoking cessation support, and obesity prevention campaigns (RCN, 2020). These efforts align with the UK government’s emphasis on reducing health inequalities, as outlined in Public Health England’s strategies (Public Health England, 2019).
One key example of public health in nursing is the role of health visitors who support early childhood development through initiatives like the Healthy Child Programme. By addressing social determinants of health—such as poverty or poor housing—nurses contribute to long-term population health improvements. However, the effectiveness of these interventions often depends on adequate funding and inter-agency collaboration, areas that are sometimes lacking in the UK healthcare system (Marmot et al., 2020). Arguably, nurses must advocate for systemic change to ensure public health goals are met, demonstrating their broader responsibility beyond direct patient care.
Human Development and Its Relevance to Nursing
Human development encompasses the physical, psychological, and social growth of individuals across the lifespan. In nursing, understanding human development is essential for providing age-appropriate and developmentally sensitive care. For instance, Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development highlights stages of life where individuals face specific challenges, such as identity formation in adolescence or generativity in middle adulthood (Erikson, 1950, cited in Santrock, 2016). Nurses can use this framework to support patients during life transitions, whether it is helping a teenager cope with mental health issues or assisting older adults in maintaining a sense of purpose.
Moreover, human development intersects with health disparities. Children from disadvantaged backgrounds, for example, may experience developmental delays due to malnutrition or lack of stimulation, which nurses can address through early intervention (Marmot et al., 2020). While this knowledge is crucial, its application in busy clinical settings can be challenging, particularly when nurses lack specialised training in developmental psychology. This limitation suggests a need for integrating developmental theories more robustly into nursing education.
Integrating Person-Centred Care, Public Health, and Human Development
The integration of PCC, public health, and human development in nursing creates a holistic approach to health and wellbeing. For example, a nurse working in a community setting may use PCC to tailor health promotion messages to individual cultural beliefs while addressing public health priorities such as reducing cardiovascular disease prevalence. Simultaneously, understanding human development ensures that interventions are age-appropriate, such as focusing on physical activity for children or falls prevention for older adults.
A practical illustration of this integration can be seen in the management of obesity. A person-centred approach would involve understanding a patient’s barriers to healthy eating, perhaps due to financial constraints or emotional eating. Public health strategies might then provide access to community-based weight management programmes, while knowledge of human development ensures that interventions consider life stage-specific needs, such as nutritional requirements in adolescence (Public Health England, 2019). However, integrating these concepts requires multidisciplinary collaboration and policy support, which can be inconsistent across regions in the UK.
Furthermore, there are ethical considerations. Prioritising individual needs (PCC) may sometimes conflict with public health goals, such as mandatory vaccinations, posing dilemmas for nurses. Balancing these tensions requires critical thinking and a sound understanding of both individual and population-level health drivers, a skill that nursing curricula must foster.
Conclusion
In conclusion, person-centred care, public health, and human development are integral to effective nursing practice, offering a comprehensive framework for addressing health needs at individual and societal levels. Person-centred care ensures that patients are treated as partners in their health journey, while public health initiatives tackle broader determinants of wellbeing. Understanding human development, meanwhile, equips nurses to provide care that aligns with patients’ life stages. Despite their distinct focuses, these concepts overlap in practice, demanding a nuanced approach to care delivery. The challenges of time, resources, and training highlight the need for systemic support within the NHS and enhanced nursing education. Indeed, fostering these skills will enable nurses to better address complex health problems and contribute to reducing health inequalities in the UK. Ultimately, the integration of these principles not only improves patient outcomes but also reinforces the pivotal role of nursing in promoting holistic health and wellbeing.
References
- McCormack, B. and McCance, T. (2017) Person-Centred Practice in Nursing and Health Care: Theory and Practice. 2nd ed. Wiley-Blackwell.
- Moore, L., Britten, N., Lydahl, D., Naldemirci, Ö., Elam, M. and Wolf, A. (2017) Barriers and facilitators to the implementation of person-centred care in different healthcare contexts. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 31(4), pp. 662-673.
- Marmot, M., Allen, J., Boyce, T., Goldblatt, P. and Morrison, J. (2020) Health Equity in England: The Marmot Review 10 Years On. The Health Foundation.
- Public Health England (2019) Health Matters: Whole Systems Approach to Obesity. UK Government.
- Royal College of Nursing (RCN) (2020) Public Health: Nursing’s Role. RCN.
- Santrock, J.W. (2016) Life-Span Development. 16th ed. McGraw-Hill Education.
