Sample Answer for NRS 420 Adolescence Contemporary Issues and Resources
In the rapidly evolving digital age, teenagers are increasingly exposed to a myriad of challenges that can significantly impact their mental and emotional well-being. One such contemporary issue is cyberbullying, a form of bullying that takes place over digital devices like cell phones, computers, and tablets. Cyberbullying can occur through SMS, Text, and apps, or online in social media, forums, or gaming where people can view, participate in, or share content. It includes sending, posting, or sharing negative, harmful, false, or mean content about someone else, causing emotional trauma to the victim. This paper aims to delve into the issue of cyberbullying among teenagers, exploring its external stressors, discussing the assessment strategies for identifying victims, outlining the strategies for establishing a therapeutic relationship with the affected teenagers, defining the legal and ethical parameters that guide the sharing of information with parents or guardians, and identifying specific support options available for the victims and their families. The discussion will be supported by a minimum of three peer-reviewed sources published within the past five years, ensuring the relevance and currency of the information provided.
Cyberbullying, a significant issue affecting teenagers, involves the use of electronic communication to intimidate or threaten. External stressors associated with this issue include peer pressure, lack of parental supervision or support, exposure to violent or inappropriate online material, trouble dealing with emotions and conflicts, and lack of understanding or ability to avoid or report cyberbullying. The effects of cyberbullying on teenagers can be severe, ranging from lower school attendance and performance to increased stress and anxiety, feelings of isolation and fear, poor concentration, depression, decreased self-esteem and confidence, and in extreme cases, suicide. Addressing this complex issue requires a comprehensive approach, including education about online safety, promoting positive online behaviors, and providing support for victims.
Assessing cyberbullying involves understanding the nature of the issue and identifying its occurrence among teenagers. This can be achieved through surveys, which can help determine the frequency and types of bullying behavior. These assessments involve asking students about their experiences and thoughts related to bullying. The aim is to develop a clear picture of what is happening, target prevention and intervention efforts, and measure results over time. There are several tools available for assessing cyberbullying. For instance, the Cyberbullying and Online Aggression Survey Instrument can be used to screen for this issue. Other assessment methods include Adaptive Boosting, Naive Bayes, K nearest neighbors, decision trees, logistic regression, random forest, Bagging classifiers, linear support vector classifiers, and stochastic gradient descent. These tools can provide valuable insights into the prevalence and nature of cyberbullying among teenagers, thereby informing appropriate intervention strategies.
Establishing a therapeutic relationship with teenagers is a crucial aspect of nursing, particularly when dealing with sensitive issues like cyberbullying. This relationship is the foundation upon which the teenager’s trust in the nurse is built and is pivotal for effective care. The first step in forming this relationship is engagement. This involves creating a safe, non-judgmental space where the teenager feels comfortable expressing their feelings and experiences. Active listening is a key component of this process, as it shows the teenager that their thoughts and feelings are valued and understood. In the second phase of establishing a therapeutic relationship, the nurse begins to challenge the teenager’s dysfunctional thoughts, affects, and behavior patterns, with the intent of changing them. This can sometimes lead the teenager to feel reduced empathy and a lack of support from the nurse, temporarily weakening the relationship. However, this phase is crucial for helping the teenager develop healthier coping mechanisms and resilience. Throughout this process, the nurse should continue to provide emotional support and encouragement, respect and acknowledge the teenager’s feelings, and maintain open communication. This approach helps to strengthen the therapeutic relationship and promotes the teenager’s recovery and well-being.
When dealing with teenagers, particularly sensitive issues like cyberbullying, it’s crucial to understand and respect the ethical and legal parameters in nursing practice1. Ethically, nurses must balance respect for the patient’s developing capacity for decision-making with the ongoing need for support and guidance from caring adults. This includes concerns about confidentiality, management of high-risk behavior, parent/adolescent conflict, and emerging independence1. Nurses are expected to maintain confidentiality within the legal, regulatory, and ethical parameters of health and education. Legally, the parameters can vary from state to state. For instance, laws governing adolescent consent and right to privacy can differ significantly, complicating their interpretation and management when intersecting with regulations like the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the 21st Century Cures Act, and evidence-based care recommendations for protecting health data privacy. Despite these complexities, nurses need to comply with state laws, professional standards of practice, and employer policies, procedures, and protocols to avoid the risk of losing their nursing license.
There are several support options available for teenagers dealing with cyberbullying. One of the primary resources is psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy. A licensed therapist can provide teenagers with healthy coping skills and help them work through the circumstances that may have led to their excessive social media use. This can be particularly beneficial if the teenager is experiencing mental health conditions related to their online experiences. In addition to therapy, there are also support groups available for young people. These groups can provide a safe space for teenagers to share their experiences and learn from others who have faced similar challenges. There are also online resources and apps designed to help teenagers manage their internet usage and break free from digital addiction. Furthermore, there are specialized treatment programs and recovery centers that focus on digital addiction among adolescents. These programs provide comprehensive treatment plans that address the root causes of the addiction and equip teenagers with the skills they need to use digital technology in a healthy way.
In conclusion, cyberbullying is a significant contemporary issue that affects many teenagers today. It presents unique challenges due to its pervasive nature and the anonymity that the internet can provide. However, with effective assessment strategies, it is possible to identify and support those who are affected. Establishing a therapeutic relationship is crucial in this process, providing a safe and non-judgmental space for teenagers to express their feelings and experiences. While there are legal and ethical parameters that must be respected, particularly regarding confidentiality, the welfare of the teenager is paramount. Therefore, in cases where there is a risk of harm, it may be necessary to involve parents or guardians and potentially law enforcement. Finally, there are numerous support options available, from psychotherapy and support groups to online resources and specialized treatment programs. These resources can provide valuable assistance to teenagers dealing with cyberbullying, helping them to navigate this challenging issue and promoting their overall well-being.
References:
PositivePsychology.com. (n.d.). The 5 Components of a Therapeutic Relationship. https://positivepsychology.com/components-of-therapeutic-relationship/
Wisconsin Technical College System. (n.d.). Legal Considerations and Ethics. In Nursing Fundamentals. https://wtcs.pressbooks.pub/nursingfundamentals/chapter/1-6-legal-considerations-and-ethics/
Psychology Today. (2021, May). Teens and Technology: A Guide to Digital Detoxing. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/being-your-selfie/202105/teens-and-technology-guide-digital-detoxing
EssayZoo. (n.d.). Cyberbullying: A Contemporary Issue Teenagers Face Today. https://essayzoo.org/essay/apa/health-and-medicine/cyberbullying-contemporary-issue-teenagers-face-today.php
Springer. (2023). A Comprehensive Study on Cyberbullying in Social Media Using Machine Learning Algorithms. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s42979-023-02301-2
American Psychological Association. (2019, November). The power of the therapeutic relationship. Monitor on Psychology, 50(10). https://www.apa.org/monitor/2019/11/ce-corner-relationships
American Academy of Pediatrics. (n.d.). Ethical Issues in the Care of Adolescents. https://downloads.aap.org/AAP/PDF/Bioethics-EthicalIssuesInTheCareOfAdolescents.pdf