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
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
References
American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA). (2020, April 14). Nursing informatics in the times of COVID-19: Achievements, challenges, and new ideas. AMIA COVID-19 Webinar series. https://www.amia.org/sites/default/files/AMIA-COVID19-Webinar-Series-NIWG-ANI-Clinical-Informatics-3.pdf
DeNisco, S. M., & Barker, A. M. (2016). Advanced practice nursing: Essential knowledge for the profession (3rd ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues. (2016). Vulnerable populations in safeguarding children: Pediatrics medical countermeasure research.https://bioethicsarchive.georgetown.edu/pcsbi/sites/default/files/6%20Vulnerable%20Populations%20Safeguarding%20Children%209.30.16.pdf
Watson, J. (2008). Nursing: The philosophy and science of caring (Rev. ed). Boulder, CO: University Press of Colorado.
RESPOND TO GINA HERE (150 WORDS, 2 REFERENCES)
This is insightful, Gina; nurse informatics play significant roles in the management of pediatric care. Given that children are vulnerable to diseases and different complications, there is always the need to rely on the previous data and information to initiate effective care (American Nurses Association, 2015). Additionally, given that children cannot provide consent to the treatment
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
processes, there is always the need to help them deal with circumstances beyond their control. Children often need quality care, and this calls for specialized interventions coupled with research and evidence-based practices. Therefore, informatics nurses, with their high-level technical roles, are able to use data and technology to monitor, the program carefully, and develop effective patient care initiatives to enhance treatment and general care for the patients (Grover, Sharma, & Mehra, 2020). Pediatric studies are critical, especially when it comes to the enhancement of primary care. However, in reality, pediatric populations are understudied due to the legality of consent and lack of cognitive abilities to understand any form of perceived risk associated with the research processes. 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.
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References
American Nurses Association. (2015). Nursing informatics: Scope and standards of practice. Retrieved from: http://mtshohoe.edu.gh/library/index.php?p=show_detail&id=855&keywords=
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
MARIA
Re: Topic 3 DQ 1
The 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
RESPOND TO MARIA HERE (150 WORDS, 2 REFERENCES)
This is insightful, Maria; there are increased cases of mental illnesses in the healthcare systems. In the United States, one in five adults suffers from mental health problems; in other words, over 43.8 million people are diagnosed with mental health problems every year (Hai et al., 2020). There are also serious cases of mental health problems where one in twenty-five people are affected in a given single year. Also, there are many patients with mental illness who do not seek medical care because of fear of rejection. Advanced registered nurses, with their research skills, are able to undertake evidence-based practice processes to identify the best strategies that can be employed to enhance the management of patients suffering from mental health problems. Also, advanced registered nurses have the capability of reducing the stigma associated with mental health problems. Stigma toward mentally ill people not only originates in the general public but also among health care professionals (Shim & Compton, 2018).
References
Hai, A. H., Lee, C. S., Oh, S., Vaughn, M. G., Piñeros-Leaño, M., Delva, J., & Salas-Wright, C. P. (2020). Trends and correlates of Internet support group participation for mental health problems in the United States, 2004–2018. Journal of psychiatric research, 132, 136-143. Retrieved from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022395620310153
Shim, R. S., & Compton, M. T. (2018). Addressing the social determinants of mental health: If not now, when? If not us, who?. Psychiatric Services, 69(8), 844-846. Retrieved from: https://ps.psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/appi.ps.201800060 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