Posted: July 20th, 2022

Stigma Associated with Disease

Stigma Associated with Disease
Being a patient advocate is a critical role in nursing. Nurses are stepping up to provide leadership to meet the needs of the vulnerable as health care changes rapidly and continuously (PubMed, 2019). Being a nurse advocate extends beyond the hospital bedside. To address all aspects of their patients’ care, nurses must learn to listen to their patients’ needs. In this discussion, I will go over the various types of assistance that are required for vulnerable populations.
A pregnant 24-year-old woman who is currently homeless and unmarried
Because she is homeless, this client is unlikely to have received any prenatal care. The first step would be to help this woman get immediate medical attention. Not only is her life at stake, but so is the life of the unborn child. She should be taken to a local emergency department for lab work, an examination, and diagnostic tests such as an ultrasound to evaluate the baby. While she is in the hospital, social services could help her sign up for Medicaid for Pregnant Women, WIC for nutritional needs, and living arrangements.
A 16-year-old girl who has escaped from her foster home and is addicted to IV drugs
Listening is essential when dealing with this patient. She may have fled the foster home due to abuse. She could be addicted to drugs to cope with the abuse or suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is critical to listen to this patient and establish a rapport with her in order for her to receive the necessary care. Contacting Social Services to report her whereabouts and ensuring that the situation is thoroughly assessed in order to help secure a safe environment for her. The patient will require some form of rehabilitation, and the first step in assisting her is to establish a connection with her.
An immigrant worker whose tuberculosis skin test recently came back positive
Because this patient is an immigrant worker, they may have been hesitant to seek medical attention for any previous symptoms. With a positive TB skin test, this patient must be admitted to the hospital under isolation protocol. “This means the person’s body was infected with TB bacteria,” according to the CDC (2021). Additional tests are required to determine whether the person has latent tuberculosis infection or TB disease” (para. 6). A chest x-ray and lab tests are required. Because this patient is an immigrant, it is possible that their English is not fluent; thus, providing forms of interpretation is critical for caring for this patient. To help with language barriers, our hospital has a phone service that allows patients to video chat with interpreters. This allows HIPPA to be maintained while also providing the best care possible. Social Services could assist this patient in obtaining insurance to help with medical bills and medication costs.
An employed, married man who contracted Hepatitis B 30 years ago after receiving a blood transfusion.
The RN must listen to the patient and assure him that this is not his fault. Because the patient is married, the nurse must ask him if his spouse is aware of Hepatitis B. It is critical to ask the patient if he is currently receiving Hepatitis B treatment. If not, the RN must assist the patient in obtaining appropriate medical attention in order to begin treatment.
Nurse Advocacy on Boards and in Public Service: Attending to Vulnerable Populations (2019). 82-86 in Creative Nursing, 25(2). https://doi.org/10.1891/1078-4535.25.2.82
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Testing for tuberculosis infection (March 8, 2021). URL: https://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/testing/tbtesttypes.htm Please use the following book as one of the references:
For context, here’s the topic:
The Second Topic: Disease-Related Stigma
Diseases, health impairments, and pregnancy in some vulnerable populations can result in humiliation and prejudicial judgment. Unfortunately, these health conditions can cause vulnerable populations to be shunned by society.
What methods would you use to advocate for vulnerable populations?
Discuss the types of assistance you might provide to each of the following vulnerable population clients:
A pregnant 24-year-old woman who is currently homeless and unmarried
A 16-year-old girl who has escaped from her foster home and is addicted to IV drugs
An immigrant worker whose tuberculosis skin test recently came back positive
An employed, married man who contracted Hepatitis B 30 years ago after receiving a blood transfusion.
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One of the references should come from this book:
M. Stanhope and J. Lancaster (2020). Public health nursing: Community-based population-centered health care (10th ed.). Mosby.