Thanks to significant research into the relationship between physical, mental and social conditions, awareness and understanding of psychosocial aspects in healthcare is vital (Walker et al, 2007) . These aspects are particularly important in nursing, where an individual should be considered as the whole person with needs for physical, psychological, social, emotional, intellectual and even spiritual well-being (Holland et al, 2008). This essay will address the psychosocial theory of health beliefs and attitudes as they relate to nursing. The essay will begin by considering how health beliefs lead to healthy behaviors. We will then discuss how theoretical models contribute to nursing and their usefulness and importance in applying theory to nursing patients. As the largest force in the field of healthcare, the nursing profession is considered uniquely positioned to facilitate health promotion and disease prevention. Nurses spend much more time with patients than other healthcare professionals and as such assist patients in managing their health. The key requirement in providing this assistance is to ensure that individuals remain as independent as possible through encouragement and empowerment. There are numerous factors to consider to provide this assistance effectively. Given the cultural, socioeconomic, and educational diversity among us, it is difficult to define “health” or even “disease.” As our perceptions differ, our interpretations and possible meanings of those words also differ. The World Health Organization (WHO), 1948, states that “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. Although positive, the outcome... focus of the article ......arlow.Shaw, C., Brittain, K., Tansey, R. & Williams K. (2008) How people decide to seek care healthcare : A qualitative study. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 45 (10), 1516-1524. Sully, P. and Dallas, J. (2005) Essential communication skills for nursing. Edinburgh: Elsevier Mosby.Walker, J., Payne, S., Smith, P., Jarrett, N. (2007) Psychology for nursing and the caring professions. 3rd. and. Glasgow: McGraw Hill. World Health Organization (1948) “WHO Definition of Health - Preamble to the Constitution of the World Health Organization adopted by the International Health Conference, New York, 19-22 June 1946; signed on 22 July 1946 by representatives of 61 States (Official Records of the World Health Organization, no. 2, p. 100) and entered into force on 7 April 1948” at http://www.who.int/ about/definition/it/print.html. (accessed December 2 2010).