Health-promotion behaviors of undergraduate nursing students: a survey analysis.
OBJECTIVE
To examine health promotion behaviors and barriers to health promotion in traditional and nontraditional nursing students in an associate degree nursing program in the northeastern United States.


BACKGROUND
Nursing students are exposed to concepts of health promotion in the nursing curriculum, but do not necessarily apply them to their own lives. Examining the variables affecting the health behaviors of nursing students may provide the information required to motivate lifestyle changes in this population.


METHODS
A cross-sectional descriptive design was used to examine the relationship between study variables.


RESULTS
Nontraditional nursing students participate in health promoting behaviors less often than traditional nursing students and experience more barriers to health promotion.


CONCLUSIONS
Implementation of health promotion programs targeting nontraditional students may lead to improved health among these individuals, which may result in increased success in nursing programs.
Farmingdale State College, Department of Nursing, New York, USA.
Jennifer
J
Bryer
Farmingdale State College, Department of Nursing, New York, USA.
Fran
F
Cherkis
Adelphi University College of Nursing and Public Health, Garden City, New York, USA.
Janet
J
Raman
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D009511:New England; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015397:Program Evaluation; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult