Nola J. Pender is a prominent nursing theorist who is best known for her Health Promotion Model (HPM). Born in 1941 in Lansing, Michigan, Pender received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Michigan State University in 1962. She went on to earn a Master’s degree in nursing and a PhD in psychology from Northwestern University. Pender’s extensive education and experience in both nursing and psychology heavily influenced the development of her Health Promotion Model.

• Pender’s Health Promotion Model is a nursing theory that emphasizes the importance of promoting health and preventing illness by addressing multiple factors that impact health behaviors. According to the HPM, health is a positive state of well-being that is achieved by individuals who actively seek out ways to promote their health and prevent illness. The model identifies three main components that influence health behaviors: individual characteristics and experiences, behavior-specific cognitions and affect, and behavioral outcomes.
• One of the key contributions of Pender’s Health Promotion Model is its emphasis on the role of personal and environmental factors in health behaviors. The model recognizes that individuals come from different backgrounds and have different experiences, and that these factors can influence their beliefs and behaviors related to health. The HPM also emphasizes the importance of social support and environmental factors in promoting healthy behaviors.
• In addition to her work on the Health Promotion Model, Pender has also made significant contributions to the field of nursing education. She has been a professor of nursing at the University of Michigan, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and the University of Texas at Austin. Pender has also published numerous articles and books on topics related to nursing theory, health promotion, and health behavior.
• Pender has received numerous awards and honors throughout her career for her contributions to nursing theory and education. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and the Society of Behavioral Medicine, and has received the Distinguished Career in Public Health Award from the American Public Health Association. In recognition of her contributions to nursing theory, Pender was inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame in 2010.
• Overall, Nola J. Pender has made significant contributions to the field of nursing through her Health Promotion Model and her work in nursing education. Her emphasis on the importance of personal and environmental factors in promoting health behaviors has influenced nursing practice and research, and her work continues to be a valuable resource for nurses and other healthcare professionals.