Discuss the role of the nurse (or midwife) in preventative health care as outlined in the Registered Nurse standards for practice (2016) or National competency standards of the Midwife (2006).

Improved health literacy and better coordination of care are crucial elements of successful preventive health care plans. There is growing evidence that greater involvement of nurses and midwives in preventative health care is essential to improving peoples’ overall health and making health care systems sustainable into the future.

This assessment task requires you to explore health education from the perspective of a patient who has osteoarthritis and to identify the key elements of an educative care plan.

Case Scenario

Irim is a 31-year-old nurse. She has suffered from knee pain in both legs for several years making it difficult for her to perform some of the everyday care activities in a busy paediatric ward where she works. Irim saw an orthopaedic surgeon who diagnosed osteoarthritis and advised her on two possible care pathways: (1) to lose some weight (Irim’s BMI was 31), or (2) to have a double knee replacement at some point in the future. Choosing to explore option 1 first, Irim returned to her general practitioner and primary health care nurse requesting a care plan.

Details of the Assessment Task:

Headings and subheadings should be used as shown in the Overview of the Assessment. For example: Introduction; Prevention in health care and the role of nurses and midwives; Health literacy; Osteoarthritis and an educative care plan; Conclusion.

Introduction (approx. 200 words)
Introduce the topic and outline the aims and key elements of the paper. Includes signposting. Creates interest.

Introduction must Clearly and comprehensively introduces the topic, outlines the aims, and explains key elements of the paper. Clear signposting throughout. Creates very high interest.

Prevention in health care and the role of nurses and midwives (approx. 300 words)
Discuss the role of the nurse (or midwife) in preventative health care as outlined in the Registered Nurse standards for practice (2016) or National competency standards of the Midwife (2006).
This part must be Clear and comprehensive discussion on the role of the nurse or the midwife in preventive health care according to the standards.

Health literacy (approx. 600 words)
Define health literacy and discuss the factors that can influence a person’s level of health literacy.

Outline how improved health literacy can positively affect the lives of people and sustainability of health care systems.

This part must have accurate, comprehensive definition of health literacy and the factors that influence a person’s health literacy.

The below reference has a good definition of health literacy but try to get better one

World Health Organisation (2010). Track 2: Health Literacy and health behaviour. Retrieved from www.who.int

Osteoarthritis and an educative care plan (approx. 1300 words)
This part must have accurate, comprehensive overview of osteoarthritis. Accurate, comprehensive discussion of the environmental considerations for effective education in the clinical setting, principles of adult learning theory, and use of evidence based materials.