Health Education -- Hospital Setting

Hospitals are one of the biggest providers for patient education on a healthy lifestyle. Education is normally offered to the community through hospitals in either two of the following ways: through community prevention disorder or disease. This offers the patient information on the condition, any limits they may now have, and how to readjust their lifestyle to stay as healthy as possible. For instance, a person who is recently told they are diabetic may receive information by a hospital educator on how to restructure their diet and how often to exercise to control the disease and delay problems that may occur.

The hospital setting provides a very interesting work environment and allows a wide variety of health professionals to interact. The educational programs offered through hospitals are normally delivered by nurses or physicians due to their clinical background (Introduction to Health Education and Health Promotion). As a health educator and entering this field, generally if a clinical background is not present graduate level training in health programs and/or patient education. Both are important in helping the community reach an attainable healthier lifestyle. Community prevention programs offered through hospital staff can consist of informational lectures on particular conditions, screenings (glaucoma, cholesterol, blood pressure), and workshops to promote a healthier lifestyle. Patient education is very important because assistance is normally offered after a patient has been diagnosed with a particular education or public health may be required (Opportunities in Public Health Careers). The salary range in health education in this setting can depend on experience, location, and size of the hospital facility. Many nurses who have been working in providing care services to the patients will migrate into the education function in a certain specialization. Some of the future trends of health education in this setting may be a change in who is presenting the materials. As more universities begin to offer public health and community health promotion degrees, health educators will be more qualified from an educational background to present information and programs to the hospital's patients and the community. Nurses will still participate in the community prevention and screening programs. "In the health care setting, the health educator functions as a team member with the physicians and nurses to increase the health of the patients" (Opportunities in Public Health Careers). This change may lead to a stronger relationship between health care and health education.