Ans: Homeostasis is regulation of the internal environment in order that a level of consistency is maintained. This is necessary for the cells and organs of the body to operate optimally. Positive and negative feedback systems are used to achieve this. Each cell in the body has a role in maintaining homeostasis.

There are number of resources you can access to read about homeostasis in more detail:

http://www.biology-innovation.co.uk/pages/human-biology/homeostasis

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_homeostasis

Ans: All care should be underpinned by a knowledge of the factors that influence health. The ability of the body to maintain a stable internal environment is one of those central factors. A person-centred nurse should be able to understand homeostasis in order to evaluate a person’s vital signs, responses to treatment, and to detect when homeostasis is not being achieved. In addition, understanding homeostasis underpins health education and promotion activities. If a nurse is to promote health, they need to be able to place any interventions into context with how the body works. For example, you cannot advise about a healthy diet if you do not understand digestion and the healthy balance of nutrients needed in the body. In doing this you also need to understand the person’s culture, abilities and other social factors that influence their ability to support homeostasis by acquiring the right foods and preparing them in a healthy way.