An asset-based approach to creating health.

This is the second of two articles introducing ideas associated with asset-based thinking. The first article focused on what nursing itself might learn from asset-based community development (ABCD) approaches. This article focuses on patients and explains theories of how health can be created, which is called "salutogenesis". Having a feeling of control of one's life is crucial to wellbeing. Not being in control can lead to long-term stress, which can directly contribute to cardiovascular illness. Nurses need to develop these ideas by supporting the development of protective factors, including the New Economic Foundation's Five Ways to Wellbeing and Young Foundation's Control, Contact and Confidence.