Abstract:
Self-concept is an important element in linking healthy behaviors and health promotion
information. Self-care should be encouraged among nursing students so the development
of self-concept is achieved that is aligned with valuing personal health. The college years
are important years for encouraging healthy lifestyle behaviors. Nursing students need to
be aware of the importance of self-care and its relevance to being a healthcare
professional. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between nursing
students’ self-concepts and being healthy, popular, conventional and deviant and how
self-concepts relate to healthy behavior and attitudes toward health promotion messages.
A mixture of theoretical frameworks will be explored including Erikson’s self-care,
Pender’s Health Promotion, Newman’s Health as Expanding Consciousness and Orem’s
Self-Care. The instruments used will be the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile
questionnaire, analyses of journal that will reflect on food choices, sleep/rest, relaxation
techniques or recreational activities, exercise and healthy behaviors. The study will be
conducted among college nursing students during a hospital clinical rotation with a
sample of thirty. Participation will be voluntary. Responses will be confidential. No risks are foreseeable. Benefits include the identification of behaviors that can be modified to promote healthy lifestyle habits.
