Comprender el concepto actual de salud y valorar críticamente la pertinencia de las definiciones existentes en torno a él, no resulta fácil para los estudiantes de primer curso de Enfermería que, por primera vez, se ven obligados a profundizar en un concepto tan abstracto. Sin embargo, su abordaje educativo es imprescindible, pues junto con el tratamiento dado a otros conceptos, fundamentará el diseño profesional de los cuidados enfermeros que en el futuro se desarrollarán. Por tanto, es deseable el acceso educativo a una concepción de salud no mediatizada por disciplina o moda alguna, amplia, auténtica y desde una perspectiva realista de la vida de las personas y de las colectividades. Para tal fin, deben complementarse metodologías activas y grupales que induzcan al estudiante a reflexionar, integrar conocimientos y experiencias, fundamentar y analizar críticamente la realidad.
Derivado del anterior convencimiento se expone la siguiente experiencia, realizada durante cinco cursos académicos consecutivos, con alumnos de Enfermería de primer curso de la Escuela Universitaria de Enfermería "La Paz" de Madrid.
To understand the current concept of health and to critically evaluate the pertinence of the existing definitions concerning health is not easy for the students in their first year of Nursing. These students are forced to study in detail such an abstract concept for the first time. However, an educational approach to this topic is essential, as along with treatment of other concepts, it will form the basis of the professional design of nursing care that the students will develop in the future. Therefore, it is desirable to provide access in their education to a concept of health that is not authoritative in any way, but rather a broad authentic concept formed from a realistic perspective of life, of people and of collectives. For such intentions, active and group methodologies should be followed that induce the student to reflect, integrate knowledge and experience, and grasp and critically analyse reality.
In view of the convictions presented above, the following experience is presented, gained during five consecutive academic courses with first-year students of Nursing, in the University Nursing School "La Paz" in Madrid.