Nursing
Respond to your colleagues who were assigned a different patient than you. Critique your colleague’s targeted questions, and explain how the patient might interpret these questions. Explain whether any of the questions would apply to your patient, and why.
MAIN POST
AG is a 54-year-old Caucasian male who was referred to your clinic to establish care after a recent hospitalization after having a seizure related to alcohol withdrawal. He has hypertension and a history of alcohol and cocaine abuse. He is homeless and is currently living at a local homeless shelter. He reports that he is out of his amlodipine 10 mg which he takes for hypertension. He reports he is abstaining from alcohol and cocaine but needs to smoke cigarettes to calm down since he is not drinking anymore.
Socioeconomic Factors
It is cited that health outcomes are heavily dependent on the social, economic, nutrition, stress, environmental, and educational status of individuals (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2012). When interacting with the above patient, it is important for the healthcare provider to consider possible barriers to health care access. Poor social and economic factors can lead to constraints, poor health, and health risks (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2012). It is researched that the costs of providing care to someone homeless is eight times higher than someone with a permanent address due to the complex issues surrounding physical, social, and psychological needs (Physiopedia contributors, 2019). Socioeconomic considerations for this patient include assessing the willingness to pursue resources and the perception of what resources mean to them. These resources include emotional, safe housing, access to food, clean water, and transportation (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2019).
Lifestyle factors
Lifestyle factors such as diet, rest, exercise, drug use, smoking, caffeine, and alcohol can predispose individuals to further health issues (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2012). In the case of this patient, meals are most likely at the shelter or fast-food establishments. The lack of food availability makes it difficult for consumption of a diet that is low in salt, cholesterol, and fat. Resources should be made available that promote food security that allow for he recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables each day (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2019). Another lifestyle factor that requires high priority for resources is the reported abuse of alcohol and drugs. Assessment should include preventative screening for HBV and liver disease. A mental health screening is also essential for this individual. Resource should be explored and made attainable to vulnerable populations such as the one discussed here. Research states that the best opportunities are those done as part of health fairs in locations that are familiar and attainable. Places such as community centers, shelters, faith-based organizations, recreational settings, and non-traditional work environments (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2019). Examples of resources that a healthcare provider can offer include health departments, missions and shelters, nurse-managed clinics, social service agencies, food and clothing banks, American Red Cross and other voluntary programs, community mental health centers and community health centers, and drug abuse/substance abuse services (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2019).
Target Questions
- When was the last seizure episode and did you pursue medical care?
- Do you need help getting your prescription meds refilled?
- When was the last time that you drink alcohol?
- When was the last time that you used cocaine?
- Do you want help with staying away from alcohol and drugs?
- When was the last time that you checked your blood pressure?
- When was the last time that you had a dose of your amlodipine?
- How long have you been smoking?
- How many packs do you smoke per day?
- Do you want to stop smoking?
- Have you ever been diagnosed with any mental illness?
- How did you become homeless?
Sensitivity is a concept that must be embraced when assessing this patient’s socioeconomic and lifestyle status. In a nutshell, it is crucial for the healthcare provider to know that factors such as age, gender, race, cultural attitudes, and regional differences affect the manner in which patients and their families solicit healthcare needs (Ball, Dains, Flynn, Solomon, & Stewart, 2019). Expression of cultural sensitivity is demonstrated by five components which include awareness, knowledge, skill, encounters, and desire (Ball, Dains, Flynn, Solomon, & Stewart, 2019)
References
Ball, J.W., Dains, J.E., Flynn, J.A., Solomon, B.S., & Stewart, R.W. (2019). Seidel’s guide to physical examination: An interprofessional approach (9th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Mosby.
Physiopedia contributors (2019). Health and wellbeing needs of the homeless, the physiotherapist’s role. Physiopedia. Retrieved from: https://www.physio-pedia.com/index.php?title=Health_and_wellbeing_needs_of_the_homeless,_the_physiotherapist%27s_role&oldid=224232
Stanhope, M. & Lancaster, J. (2012). Public health nursing: Population centered health care in the community (8th ed.). Maryland Heights, MO: Elsevier Mosby.
INSTRUCTION:
Respond to your colleagues who were assigned a different patient than you. Critique your colleague’s targeted questions, and explain how the patient might interpret these questions. Explain whether any of the questions would apply to your patient, and why.
ANSWER
Post Response
Post Response
The post has clearly explained socio economic and lifestyle factors and their influence on the patient who was referred to the clinic after having a seizure linked alcohol withdrawal. The health outcomes of a patient are highly dependent on the economic, social, environmental, and nutrition status of the individual (Stanhope and Lancaster, 2012). Therefore, it is important to consider how socioeconomic status is a constraint to the health risks of this patient. The post has significantly stated socioeconomic considerations include assessing the willingness of the patient to acquire the resources and their perception of resources such as clean water, access to food, and safe housing.
With regards to the post, lifestyle factors also influence a patient’s healthcare needs. Lifestyle factors include drug use, exercise, diet, rest, consumption of alcohol, and smoking which lead to further health issues (Physiopedia contributors, 2019). For instance, lack of food and consumption of food in fast food establishments makes it challenging for the patient to consume food that is low salt, fat, and cholesterol. Relatively, abuse of alcohol and drugs has been another lifestyle factor that demands attention for the patient
The targeted questions asked to the patient were effective since they helped in building the health history of the patient. Questions on the health condition, usage of alcohol and drugs, treatment received, and patient’s awareness are essential while assessing the patient and providing care that suits the patient’s healthcare needs. However, the questions should focus more on cultural competence to understand to what extent the patient’s healthcare needs are linked to cultural, socio-economic, and lifestyle factors. The healthcare provider needs to understand how factors such as cultural attitudes, race, gender, age, and social factors affect the patient’s healthcare needs (Ball et al., 2019).
The patient might perceive these questions as a way through which the clinician increases knowledge about their healthcare needs to facilitate the provision of better care. The questions may not apply to the other patient since the patient in this case is pursuing different medical care. Therefore, it is difficult for the targeted questions to be used for a different patient since they are focused on assessing the condition of the current patient.
References
Ball, J.W., Dains, J.E., Flynn, J.A., Solomon, B.S., & Stewart, R.W. (2019). Seidel’s guide to physical examination: An interprofessional approach (9th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Mosby.
Physiopedia contributors (2019). Health and wellbeing needs of the homeless, the physiotherapist’s role. Physiopedia. Retrieved from: https://www.physio-pedia.com/index.php?title=Health_and_wellbeing_needs_of_the_homeless,_the_physiotherapist%27s_role&oldid=224232
Stanhope, M. & Lancaster, J. (2012). Public health nursing: Population centered health care in the community (8th ed.). Maryland Heights, MO: Elsevier Mosby.
