Discussion 2: Diversity and Health Assessments

 

In 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).

 

Randall’s statements sparked a great deal of controversy and debate; however, they emphasize an underlying reality in the health care field: different populations, cultures, and groups have diverse beliefs and practices that impact their health. Nurses and health care 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.

 

Case 1

 

Subjective Data

 

CC: “I came for my annual physical exam, but do not want to be a burden to my daughter.”

 

History of Present Illness (HPI): At-risk 86-year-old Asian male – who is physically and financially dependent on his daughter, a single mother who has little time or money for her father’s health needs.

 

PMH: hypertension (HTN), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), b12 deficiency and chronic prostatitis

 

PSH: S/P cholecystectomy

 

Drug Hx:

 

Current Meds: Lisinopril 10mg daily, Prilosec 20mg daily, B12 injections monthly, and cipro 100mg daily.

 

 

 

Review of Systems (ROS)

 

General: + weight loss of 25 lbs over the past year; no recent fatigue, fever or chills.

 

Head, eyes, ears, nose & throat (HEENT): no changes in vision or hearing, no difficulty chewing or swallowing.

 

Neck: no pain or injury

 

Respiratory:

 

CV:

 

GI:

 

GU: no urinary hesitancy or change in urine stream

 

Integument: multiple bruises on his upper arms and back.

 

MS/Neuro: + falls x 2 within the last 6 months; no syncopal episodes or dizziness

 

Psych:

 

 

 

Objective Data

 

PE: B/P 188/96; Pulse 89; RR 16; Temp 99.0; Ht 5,6; wt 110; BMI 17.8

 

 

 

HEENT: Atraumatic, normocephalic, PERRLA, EOMI, arcus senilus bilaterally, conjunctiva and sclera clear, nares patent, ornasopharynx clear, edentulous.

 

Lungs: CTA AP&L

 

Cor: S1S2 without rub or gallop

 

Abd: benign, normoactive bowel sounds x 4

 

Ext: no cyanosis, clubbing or edema

 

Integument: multiple bruises in different stages of healing – on his upper arms and back.

 

Neuro: No obvious deformities, CN grossly intact II-XII

 

 

 

Case 2

 

Subjective Data

 

CC: “I am here for my annual physical exam and have been having vaginal discharge.”

 

History of Present Illness (HPI): 32-year-old pregnant lesbian – 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.

 

 

 

Drug Hx:

 

Current Medications: prenatal vitamins and takes Tylenol over the counter for aches and pains on occasion

 

Family Hx: She a strong family history of diabetes. Gravida 1; Para 0; Abortions 0.

 

 

 

Review of Systems (ROS)

 

General: no fatigue, fever or chills.

 

Head, eyes, ears, nose & throat (HEENT):

 

Neck: no pain or injury

 

Respiratory:

 

CV:

 

GI:

 

GU:

 

Integument: multiple piercings, and tattoos. Old scars related to “cutting”.

 

Neuro: no syncopal episodes or dizziness, no change in memory or thinking patterns; no twitches or abnormal movements

 

 

 

Objective Data

 

PE: B/P 128/76; Pulse 83; RR 16; Temp 99.0; Ht 5,6; wt 128; BMI 20.98

 

 

 

HEENT: Atraumatic, normocephalic, PERRLA, EOMI, conjunctiva and sclera clear; nares patent, ornasopharynx clear, good dentition. Piercing in her right nostril and lower lip.

 

Lungs: CTA AP&L

 

Cor: S1S2 without rub or gallop

 

Abd: benign, normoactive bowel sounds x 4

 

GU: external genitalia intact, no lesions or masses. White copious discharge with an amine odor; no cervical motion tenderness; adenxa intact.

 

Ext: no cyanosis, clubbing or edema

 

Integument: intact without lesions masses or rashes.

 

Neuro: No obvious deficits and CN grossly intact II-XII

 

 

 

Case 3

 

Subjective Data

 

CC: “Annual physical exam”

 

History of Present Illness (HPI): 23-year-old Native American male comes in to see you because he has been having anxiety and wants something to help him. He has been smoking “pot” and says he drinks to help him too. He tells you he is afraid that he will not get into Heaven if he continues in this lifestyle.

 

Drug Hx:

 

Current medication – denied

 

Allergies: no allergies to food or medications.

 

Family history: is very positive for diabetes, hypertension, and alcoholism.

 

 

 

Review of Systems (ROS)

 

General: no recent weight gains of losses, fatigue, fever or chills.
Head, eyes, ears, nose & throat (HEENT):

 

Neck:

 

Respiratory:

 

CV: no chest discomfort or palpitations

 

GI:

 

GU:

 

Integument: history of eczema – not active

 

MS/Neuro: no syncopal episodes or dizziness, no change in memory or thinking patterns; no twitches or abnormal movements

 

Psych:

 

 

 

Objective Data

 

PE: B/P 158/90; Pulse 88; RR 18; Temp 99.2; Ht 5,7; wt 208; BMI 32.6

 

 

 

General: 23 year old male appears well developed and well nourished. He is anxious – pacing in the room and fidgeting, but in no acute distress.

 

HEENT: Atraumatic, normocephalic, PERRLA, EOMI, sclera with mild icterus, nares patent, ornasopharynx clear, poor dentition – multiple carries.

 

Lungs: CTA AP&L

 

Cor: S1S2, +II/VI holosystolic murmur; without rub or gallop

 

Abd: benign, normoactive bowel sounds x 4; Hepatomegaly 2cm below the costal margin.

 

Ext: no cyanosis, clubbing or edema

 

Integument: intact without lesions masses or rashes.

 

Neuro: No obvious deficits and CN grossly intact II-XII

 

 

 

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.
• Select one of the three case studies. Reflect on the provided patient information.
• Reflect on the specific socioeconomic, spiritual, lifestyle, and other cultural factors related to the health of the patient you selected.
• 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

 

Post an explanation of the specific socioeconomic, spiritual, lifestyle, and other cultural factors associated with the patient you selected. 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.

 

200 words 2 references within 5 years (prefer nursing journals or peer reviewed only)

Henrietta Lacks was an African American woman whose cancer cells were the source of the HeLa cell line, one of the most important cell lines in medical research. HeLa cells are “immortalized cells.” Immortalized cells lines are important because they will reproduce indefinitely under specific conditions. The HeLa immortal cell line was vital for creating the polio vaccine, cloning (i.e., Dolly the sheep), gene mapping (i.e., the Human Genome Project) and more. 

Mrs. Lacks was the unwitting source of these cells when her tumor was biopsied in 1951 during treatment for cervical cancer at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Maryland. Her cells were then cultured by George Otto Gey, who created the cell line known as “HeLa” (i.e., Henrietta Lacks). Consent was NOT obtained to culture her cells, nor was she (or her family) ever compensated for the use of the cells despite the fact that the HeLa cell line revolutionized modern medicine!

As we examine ethics for nursing research and evidence-based practice, please consider and present examples of human experimentation that have occurred during the history of medical research. Have these projects resulted in beneficial outcomes for society? Can human experimentation be justified when the greater good of society is at stake?