CASE 1
Melanie Cortazar
Justina Marie Fera
Natalya V Kosyreva
Nadya Marie Leblanc Moriniere
Diana Soler
CASE 2
Anairis Castillo Palacio
Keyer Dominguez
Meydel Rangel Ulloa
Yoslaida Ruiz
Angel Thomas
CASE 3
Carolina Maria Bao
Krista Oliver
Maria C. Ricardo-Tollens
Mary Amanda Rodriguez Finales
Melissa Marie Santos
Note: Please post all submissions directly into the discussion board post and not as an attachment.
Case 1Case 2Case 3 Cases
J.R. is a nurse practitioner who serves an urban Chinese community. The challenges she faces daily include coordinating health care for the community members, fostering compliance with treatment regimens, and teaching the community about health prevention and early detection of diseases and conditions.
J.R. has learned that one of the main reasons the community members do not adhere to their treatment regimens is because of mistrust of Western medicine. Many of the patients are older adults who rely on homeopathic treatments they learned in China as children. These patients prefer to take Chinese herbs in lieu of prescription medications. Additionally, these patients do not like to attend health screenings or take part in immunization clinics because they do not believe these measures are beneficial to their health.
L.W. is a nurse practitioner in an urban community. Many of her clients recently immigrated to the United States from various countries. She is challenged by the many different cultures she encounters and the different values and beliefs they hold toward Western medicine.
She is determined to earn her clients’ trust. She does this by providing health care services that are respectful of each client’s health beliefs and practices and cultural needs. She knows she must set aside her own values and beliefs to focus on what is important to her clients in order for them to have successful outcomes.
D.H. is a nurse administrator at a large primary practice. His duties include maintaining the nurses’ schedules to keep within the facility’s budget; overseeing the hiring and training of nurses; ensuring that the work environment for the nurses is safe; and resolving any employment issues with the nurses that require disciplinary action, termination, or reporting adverse nursing care to the state board.
One of his primary initiatives during the nurses’ orientation is to reiterate the importance of incorporating the goals of Healthy People 2020 into the nurses’ care.
Questions for the case
What type of prevention J.R. is trying to achieve when she encourages her patient population to attend the blood pressure screening events?
Please elaborate your answer; compare prevention types, give examples and share similar challenges you might have faced during your practice.
Give at least two examples of emerging populations in the United States and describe their cultural characteristics that might interfere with their healthcare.
How you as a health care professional should proceed if you suspect that a client has finances concerns about being able to afford their health care.
Sample Answer
What type of prevention is J.R. trying to achieve when she encourages her patient population to attend the blood pressure screening events?
J.R. is promoting secondary prevention. Secondary prevention focuses on early detection and prompt treatment of a disease to halt or slow its progression. For example, blood pressure screenings are designed to identify individuals with hypertension (high blood pressure) early, before they experience a major health event like a heart attack or stroke.
Comparing Prevention Types
Primary Prevention: This level aims to prevent a disease or injury from occurring in the first place. It targets healthy individuals. Examples include immunizations (like flu shots), health education (e.g., teaching about the importance of exercise and a healthy diet), and wearing a seatbelt.
Secondary Prevention: This involves early detection of disease to intervene and reverse or slow its progression. It targets individuals who may have a disease but are not yet symptomatic. Examples include mammograms for breast cancer, colonoscopies, and blood glucose screenings for diabetes.
mplications, reduce disability, and improve quality of life. It targets people who already have a chronic illness. Examples include physical therapy for a stroke victim, cardiac rehabilitation for a heart attack survivor, and support groups for people with chronic pain.
Similar Challenges
As a health professional, I've encountered similar challenges regarding health beliefs and prevention. For instance, some clients, particularly older adults, may not trust screenings because they believe "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" or they fear a negative diagnosis. Overcoming this requires building trust, providing culturally sensitive education, and framing prevention in a way that resonates with their values, such as emphasizing how a healthy life allows them to care for their family and participate in community events.
Give at least two examples of emerging populations in the United States and describe their cultural characteristics that might interfere with their healthcare.
Immigrant and Refugee Populations: These groups often come from countries with different healthcare systems and beliefs. A common cultural characteristic that can interfere with healthcare is a mistrust of Western medicine and a preference for traditional healing practices. For example, some may rely on herbal remedies or folk healers, delaying or refusing care from a Western medical doctor. They may also have different communication styles or beliefs about privacy, which can make them hesitant to share personal health information.
Hispanic/Latino Populations: This diverse group often faces linguistic barriers and may have a cultural value of "familismo," where family opinions are highly valued in healthcare decisions. This can lead to a client refusing treatment or failing to follow a regimen if their family does not approve. Additionally, some individuals may have a belief in "fatalismo," a sense that health outcomes are predetermined, which can interfere with the motivation for preventative care or active management of chronic diseases.
How should you as a health care professional proceed if you suspect that a client has financial concerns about being able to afford their health care?
If I suspect a client has financial concerns, I would proceed with a compassionate, multi-step approach:
Initiate a Discreet and Empathetic Conversation: I would open the conversation gently, without making assumptions. I might say something like, "Sometimes people worry about the cost of their medications or tests. Is that something you have concerns about?" This normalizes the issue and makes it easier for the client to open up without feeling ashamed.
Provide Information and Resources: I would provide clear information about the costs of their treatment plan and then connect them with available resources. These resources could include:
Social workers or case managers who specialize in connecting patients with financial assistance programs.
Patient assistance programs offered by pharmaceutical companies for expensive medications.
Local non-profit organizations or community health centers that offer low-cost or sliding-scale services.
Information about enrollment in Medicaid, Medicare, or the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace plans.