The Reality of Health Promotion

This pilot project examined the value of health promotion activities in clinical practice and the personal lives of 28 master’s entry Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) students in their last semester of education. Data collection involved an open-ended questionnaire and focus group discussion. Students expressed concern about finding time for health promotion and noted that patients were often too sick to be appropriate for health promotion. Participants believed that health promotion was better situated in community-based care. Of great concern to students was the lack of role models for health promotion among faculty and staff. Students also noted a decreased ability to attend to their own health while enrolled in the nursing program.