Ailyn Garcia

          Health is the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of a person. Each aspect of health is influenced by different factors, at the individual, relationship, and community level, whether it is intentionally or unintentionally. Health is measured in order to assess not only the presence of disease, but to also assess any risk factors present. Measuring health provides us with information needed to improve the quality of life within individuals and their communities. Physical health can be measured biometrically or clinically, through tests such as blood tests, as well as by communicating your symptoms with your health care provider. Mental and emotional health are measured mainly through verbal communication, such as talking about one’s symptoms or problems or through different types of surveys.

 

          Health education is any form of learning with the purpose of improving health of individuals or communities through increasing their knowledge, influencing their attitudes, or changing their behaviors. It motivates people to make the best decisions that will contribute to the body and mind being as happy and healthy as possible. Health education should be intended for all people, without excluding or discriminating any group. It should include information and resources in all areas and levels of health and identifying how each influences health. It should also include both treatment and prevention.

 

          I am looking forward to becoming a health professional, particularly a nurse, because of how impactful my job will be on patients and the communities I will one day work in. Health is one of the most important things in this world, and I would like to be a part of helping patients get the help they need while also making the experience pleasant through my interaction with them.

I am interested in the Latino/Hispanic population because of the high rates of existing health issues and lack of education, as well as my own connection to this group due to me being Mexican. The health topics I would also focus on would be diabetes and obesity.

Health is important for all people, and I will address diversity by making sure that no one feels excluded, whether it be by making sure resources are offered to all groups or by making sure the proper terminology is used when necessary. This is best accomplished by being trained to be culturally competent and have cultural desire. I want to be able to be understand and meet the needs of different diverse groups, but also show that I care and want to have the knowledge and skills needed for encounters with said diverse groups.