Vulnerable Populations - Essay Example

Vulnerable Populations/Questions Week 2 – Question The National Standards on Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) are basically directed towards healthcare organizations. However, individual providers are also motivated to utilize the standards to ensure their practices are more linguistically and culturally accessible. The standards are 14 (US Department of Health & Human Services, 2007). Standard 6 Health care organizations at all times must guarantee the proficiency of language assistance that is basically provided to patients/consumers who are limited to English proficient mainly by interpreters and bilingual staff; friends and families are not allowed at any time to provide the interpretation service but they can be allowed only at the request of the patient/consumer (US Department of Health & Human Services, 2007). The Standard (6) can be applied in a nursing home workplace. For example, Laotian resident speaks very little English and has a family that translates and uses expressions and gestures and Laotian does not write in English. The standard requires that the health care organizations offer language proficiency assistance to patients or consumers who are limited to English proficiency. The standard states this type of people require assistance in interpretation because of their limitation in speaking proficient English. If they request to be assisted by their friends and family; the request cannot be denied. References US Department of Health & Human Services. (2007). National Standards on Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS). Retrieved from http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/templates/browse.aspx?lvl=2&lvlID=15 Week 2 – Question 2 A culture that is interesting to research on is the American Indian culture. The following are two effects of transcultural beliefs and behaviors on the health of the culture in question. Space and Distance Some patients may feel perceived by a stranger sitting close to them as they regard the stranger’s closeness as an expression of caring and warmth while some patients may feel that these strangers may be invading their personal space (Lippincott’s Nursing CENTER.COM, 2005). Eye Contact Eye contact is normally taken to be a cultural determined behavior. Some people from various cultural backgrounds do not prefer it at all as they may sometimes regard the strong gaze as a sign of disrespect; this is usually common among the Asian, Indo-Chinese, Arab, American Indian and Appalachian patients as they regard the eye contact as aggressive and impolite. These patients normally avert their eyes when having any kind of conversations with the nurses and other patients perceive the eye contacts as authority figures (Lippincott’s Nursing CENTER.COM, 2005). Laotian comes from a culture where taking medicine while being watched is not allowed; this is the reason why Laotian would not want to be watched when taking medicine. References Lippincott’s Nursing CENTER.COM. (2005). Understanding transcultural nursing. Retrieved from http://www.nursingcenter.com/prodev/ce_article.asp?tid=541704 Week 3 – Question 1 Almost every health profession has made sure that cultural competency exists as part of its curriculum. Many healthcare organizations require (are in need of) cultural sensitivity mainly for the purpose of personnel training; programmes like this (cultural sensitivity) are normally designed to prepare health providers to various special needs and also the liabilities of different populations; the main of sensitizing the health providers is to attain accessible/available and suitable care to all (Hunt, 2001). Normally the development of cultural competence of health specialists is basically for the minimization of cultural obstacles to health care and also makes the health services to be more users friendly especially to cultural diverse subgroups; this development helps in the reduction of unbalanced burden of poor health. Health providers are always encouraged to discover traditional cultural theories and practices that are normally attached to such patients; this aids the health providers in developing cultural models which are appropriate for clinical interactions, protocol, treatment and health education efforts (Hunt, 2001). In our area of nursing practice, cultural competency is concerned with reducing cultural obstacles and cultural sensitivity is concerned with creating programmes that assist health providers to effectively serve patients of different cultures. References Hunt, L. M. (2001, December). Beyond cultural competence. Bulletin. Retrieved from http://www.parkridgecenter.org/Page1882.html Week 3 – Question 2 Interventions to address present, future and potential public health dilemmas (which include urban sprawl, brown field reclamation, air population and threats of international toxic exposures) normally have high chances of benefiting from a synergy that is between the discipline of ecological health and health education. Interventions that are promising usually have strategies that basically draw on the proficiency of both fields and also include social action plan and media advocacy, organizational change, lay health advisors, tailored educational messages, coalition building and risk communication (Kegler, 2004). Change targets normally range from rightful distribution of resources to individual behaviors. Significant interdisciplinary evaluation research is very important as id aids in acceleration of identifying successful models that are used for the reduction of environmental health problems that are available in the community (Kegler, 2004). In 2009, the Central Arkansas Branch of the US Green Building Council was awarding a Green Building Grant for projects in Central Arkansas that were environmental friendly. The Green Building Grant was open to anyone but preference was given to schools, nonprofit organizations and government entities that were seeking to remodel or build by making use of energy saving techniques (Moore, 2009). References Kegler, M. C. (2004). Environmental health promotion interventions: Considerations for preparation and practice. Health Education & Behavior, 31(4), 510-525. Moore, J. (2009). USGBC AR Green Building Grant Program. Retrieved from http://sites.google.com/site/greencentralarkansas/news/arkansas-in-the-news Week 4 – Question 1 A nurse can offer support in terms of genetic services to populations that are vulnerable. Regardless of the nursing practice, nurses have the role of delivering genetic services to the vulnerable populations. At the basic level of practice, the nurses advocate by reinforcing information about the genetic condition and facilitate the access to the genetic resources. The nurses thus advocate for and offer support to the vulnerable client by making sure that they have contact to genetic counseling services; these services must meet outcomes desired by the client (International Society of Nurses in Genetics [ISONG], 2010). At the advanced level of practice, the nurses personally offer genetic counseling to the vulnerable client. This involves; (a) evaluating vulnerable client’s cognitive, developmental, and physical levels, expressed interest in genetic information, and genetic literacy, (b) assessing the care outcomes in association with the client and the multidisciplinary team, (c) identifying outcomes appropriate to the goals of the client, and selecting interventions such as genetic counseling in order to accomplish the outcomes, (d) initiating and participating in research in nursing intervention and this includes education strategies, genetic counseling, evaluation and methods for the vulnerable populations, and (e) conducting nursing research in the genetic services (ISONG, 2010). References International Society of Nurses in Genetics. (2010). Genetic counseling for vulnerable populations: The role of nursing. Retrieved from http://www.isong.org/ISONG_PS_genetic_counseling_vulnerable_populations.php Week 4 – Question 2 Majority of the organization leaders in the health care systems know that cultural values and beliefs, literacy levels, linguistic diversity, and other issues can impact on the quality of health care communication. Communication that is of poor quality can affect the long-term effectiveness of the health care business and the health outcomes. One of the possible and effective solutions offered is use of the patient-centered approach to health care communication. Health care communication that is patient-centered can assist the organization’s leaders and staff to learn about the individual’s communication desires; this is also accorded to the groups being served (American Medical Association, 2006). Patient-centered communication can be described as responsive and respectful to the health care user desires, values, preferences, and beliefs. The definition given on patient-centered communication goes beyond the patient-doctor conversations; it is a component of high quality and ethical health care interaction. Within the organization, the efforts to improve the quality in order to support patient –centered communication is based on the following interrelated areas; (a) understanding the organization’s commitment, (b) collection information using standardized quantitative and qualitative collection methods, (c) engaging the communities, (d) developing a workforce that meets the communication desires of the population it serves, (e) engaging the individuals, and (f) evaluating the performance (American Medical Association, 2006). References American Medical Association. (2006). Improving communication – Improving care. American Medical Association. Read More