Diversity and Health Assessment

Diversity and Health Assessment

Diversity and Health Assessment

NURS 6512 Discussion Diversity and Health Assessment

NURS 6512 Discussion Diversity and Health Assessment

May 2012, Alice Randall wrote an article for The New York Times on the cultural factors that encouraged black women to maintain a weight above what is considered healthy. Randall explained—from her observations and her personal experience as a black woman—that many African-American communities and cultures consider women who are overweight to be more beautiful and desirable than women at a healthier weight. As she put it, “Many black women are fat because we want to be” (Randall, 2012).

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Randall’s statements sparked a great deal of controversy and debate; however, they emphasize an underlying reality in the healthcare field: different populations, cultures, and groups have diverse beliefs and practices that impact their health. Nurses and healthcare professionals should be aware of this reality and adapt their health assessment techniques and recommendations to accommodate diversity.
In this Discussion, you will consider different socioeconomic, spiritual, lifestyle, and other cultural factors that should be taken into considerations when building a health history for patients with diverse backgrounds. Your Instructor will assign a case study to you for this Discussion.
To prepare:
• Reflect on your experiences as a nurse and on the information provided in this week’s Learning Resources on diversity issues in health assessments.
• By Day 1 of this week, you will be assigned a case study by your Instructor. Note: Please see the “Course Announcements” section of the classroom for your case study assignment.
• Reflect on the specific socioeconomic, spiritual, lifestyle, and other cultural factors related to the health of the patient assigned to you.
• Consider how you would build a health history for the patient. What questions would you ask, and how would you frame them to be sensitive to the patient’s background, lifestyle, and culture? Develop five targeted questions you would ask the patient to build his or her health history and to assess his or her health risks.
• Think about the challenges associated with communicating with patients from a variety of specific populations. What strategies can you as a nurse employ to be sensitive to different cultural factors while gathering the pertinent information?
By Day 3 of Week 2
Post an explanation of the specific socioeconomic, spiritual, lifestyle, and other cultural factors associated with the patient you were assigned. Explain the issues that you would need to be sensitive to when interacting with the patient, and why. Provide at least five targeted questions you would ask the patient to build his or her health history and to assess his or her health risks.
Note: For this Discussion, you are required to complete your initial post before you will be able to view and respond to your colleagues’ postings. Begin by clicking on the “Post to Discussion Question” link, and then select “Create Thread” to complete your initial post. Remember, once you click on Submit, you cannot delete or edit your own posts, and you cannot post anonymously. Please check your post carefully before clicking on Submit!
Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses.
By Day 6 of Week 2
Respond on or before Day 6 on 2 different days to at least two of 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.

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NURS 6512 Discussion Diversity and Health Assessment
NURS 6512 Discussion Diversity and Health Assessment

Discussion Week 2
Patient Scenario:
TJ, a 32-year-old pregnant lesbian, is being seen for an annual physical exam and has been having vaginal discharge. Her pregnancy has been without complication thus far. She has been receiving prenatal care from an obstetrician. She received sperm from a local sperm bank. She is currently taking prenatal vitamins and takes over the counter Tylenol for aches and pains on occasion. She has a strong family history of diabetes. Gravida 1; Para 0; Abortions 0.
Specific Socioeconomic, Spiritual, Lifestyle, and other Cultural Factors
Despite impressive advances towards LGB equality in many countries, including the United States, research suggests that LGB persons continue to experience health disparities on almost every major US health indicator, including tobacco use, alcohol and drug use, depression, anxiety and suicidality, reproductive and sexual health, nutrition, physical activity and obesity (Dorsen & Van Devanter, 2017). While working with this patient, it is essential to be aware of the patients’ demands and provide non-judgmental care. Identifying risk factors for sexually transmitted infections are a necessary part of the sexual history (Ball et al., 2019). For this patient focusing on the chief complaint, when discharge may have begun, and how long it has been happening. Lifestyle could be a focus to examine further due to the strong family history of diabetes; it would be essential to ask questions related to diet, unusual fatigue, or history of vaginal/bladder infections.
Culturally Sensitive Issues
Being competent in cross-cultural functioning means learning new behavior patterns and effectively applying them in the appropriate settings (Cultural Competence in Health and Human Services, 2020). Culturally competent suggestions would be understanding and showing interest in the patient as a unique person, exploring and respecting the patient, beliefs, values, and preferences for care (Ball et al., 2019). While interacting with this 32-year-old pregnant patient, who identifies themself as a lesbian, it would be vital to inquire how the patient would like to be identified throughout the plan of care. Also, particular attention should be paid to care for patients who self-identify as being lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) (Ball et al., 2019). As a healthcare provider, I would need to invest time studying and becoming culturally competent to provide efficient care.
Five Targeted questions to ask patient
1. How are you feeling today?
2. How would you like to be addressed?
3. How are you coping with pregnancy?
4. Do you want or expect emotional support from the healthcare team
5. Are there medical matters that you do not wish to disclose to others?
6. Is there a religion or faith in which you wish to follow?

References
Ball, J., Dains, J. E., Flynn, J. A., Solomon, B. S., & Stewart, R. W. (2019). In Seidel’s guide to
physical examination: an interprofessional approach (9th ed., pp. 28-93). essay, Mosby.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Cultural Competence In Health and Human
Services. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://npin.cdc.gov/pages/cultural-
competence.
Dorsen, C., & Van Devanter, N. (2017). Open arms, conflicted hearts: nurse-practitioner’s
attitudes towards working with lesbian, gay and bisexual patients. Journal of Clinical
Nursing, 25(23-24), 3716–3727. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.13464