Health promotion amongst nurses and physicians: What is the human experience?

Objective: To describe how preceptors and students in the professions of nu rsing and medicine enact definitions of health and health promotion in thei r educational programs. Methods: Audiotaped interviews with 23 purposefully selected participants were analyzed using basic content analysis. Results: Both similarities and differences amongst the beliefs, knowledge, skills, and behaviors of nursing and medical preceptors and students were identifie d. More traditional definitions of health and prevention-oriented health pr omotion prevailed in both professions. Nurses were more apt to enact more r ecent World Health Organization definitions in professional practice. Concl usion: Findings suggest opportunities to evolve and clarify professional pr actice roles and education.