DQ identify a population that you will likely serve as an advanced registered nurse that you think is particularly vulnerable to issues of health disparities inequity
DQ identify a population that you will likely serve as an advanced registered nurse that you think is particularly vulnerable to issues of health disparities inequity
Re: Topic 3 DQ 1
As an informatics nurse, my target population would be pediatrics. Children have been deemed a vulnerable population in our healthcare system because they cannot consent on their own and must deal with circumstances beyond their control (economic, financial, access to healthcare, abuse, exploitation, etc.). Because of the factors mention, there is an increased health risk associated with the lack of pediatric research (Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues, 2016). Pediatric populations are understudied because of the legality of consent, the willingness to participate in research, and being able to have the cognitive ability to understand any perceived risk associated with the research. Health determinates and measures of health within a population are critical indicators of how healthcare needs to evolve in terms of preventative measures and education (DeNisco & Barker, 2016). This makes the quantification of the effectiveness of preventative health measures, programs, and education necessary (DeNisco & Barker, 2016). An informatics nurse can play a significant role in quantifying data, the improvement of technologies, and the distribution of health services (AMIA, 2020).
In terms of diversity and the global perspective, the United States continues to experience population growth and increasing diversity due to immigration. I work in California and predominantly work with Hispanic/Latino, Asian, and Middle Eastern ethnic minorities. I’m sure we’ve all experienced how this can create barriers to access to health care and how we deliver nursing care. DeNisco and Barker point out that minorities who are low income and/or have language barriers often have less access to healthcare and have poorer health outcomes (2016, p.580). Health disparities among minorities become an even bigger issue when dealing with the already vulnerable pediatric population. In terms of health equity, we have made strides with things like the Affordable Care Act to help eliminate some disparities, but unfortunately, we have a long way to go. Western medicine is very focused on the physician model of care, where everything is diagnosis-driven. However, as our nation evolves, it speaks to the greater need for cultural competence and sensitivity and caring for the patient as a whole, including cultural and spiritual needs, not just their diagnosis (Watson, 2008). Identify a population that you will likely serve as an advanced registered nurse that you think is particularly vulnerable to issues of health disparities/inequity.
he population that is vulnerable to issues of health disparities that I would like to focus on is patients with mental health disabilities. As an advanced registered nurse focusing on health care quality and patient safety, it is my duty to address mental issues related to safety in the same degree as physical ailments. There are a lot of patients with mental illness that do not seek medical care because of fear of rejection. Among the various factors, which influence help seeking, stigma, discrimination, social prejudice, and negligence are considered to be important factors which prevent mental health care and treatment (Grover, et al., 2020).
In order to address the health promotion and disease prevention for this population, it is important to first eradicate the stigma towards them. Stigma toward mentally ill people not only originates in general public but also among health care professionals (Grover, et al., 2020). An example is when we had a homeless patient come in the hospital frequently asking for anxiolytics to help calm down. Some staff thought of this person as “drug-seeking”, but in reality, he suffered from anxiety disorder and PTSD from a prior traumatic experience. This is a common misconception among psychiatric patients. In order to prevent worsening of symptoms, he should receive the appropriate care that he deserves. Incorporating quality of service such as medical screening evaluation performed by a qualified provider, educating him about his medical problems and prescribing medications appropriate for his symptoms and diagnosis are forms of health promotion. Prevention in this case includes suicide risk screening and providing resources for support groups.
Health equity should be globally addressed because every human deserves quality care and treatment. Though there may be diversities in socio-economic status, cultural background, religion, and ethnicity, there should be no room for inequity. It is every one’s fundamental right to achieve health and wellness. This requires removing obstacles to health such as poverty, discrimination, and their consequences, including powerlessness and lack of access to good jobs with fair pay, quality education and housing, safe environments, and health care (Braveman, et al., 2017).
References
Braveman, P. (2017). What is health equity? Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. https://www.rwjf.org/en/library/research/2017/05/what-is-health-equity-.html
Grover, S., Sharma, N., & Mehra, A. (2020). Stigma for Mental Disorders among Nursing Staff in a Tertiary Care Hospital. Journal of neurosciences in rural practice, 11(2), 237–244. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0040-1702916
