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
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.
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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. Discuss the contribution of your particular specialty to health promotion and disease prevention for this population. How do issues of diversity and global perspectives of care contribute to your understanding of health equity as it relates to this population?