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Diversity and Health Assessments NURS 6512N
Discussion: Diversity and Health
Assessments
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).
Photo Credit: Getty ImagesDiversity and Health Assessments NURS 6512N
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?Diversity and Health Assessments NURS 6512N
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.
Submission and Grading Information
Grading Criteria
To access your rubric:
Week 2 Discussion Rubric
Post by Day 3 of Week 2 and Respond by Day 6 of Week 2
To Participate in this Discussion:
Week 2 Discussion
What's Coming Up in Week 3?
Photo Credit: [BrianAJackson]/[iStock / Getty Images Plus]/Getty Images
Next week, you examine assessment techniques, health risks and concerns, and
recommendations for care related to patient growth, weight, and nutrition. You will also
begin your first DCE: Health History Assessment which will be due in Week 4. Plan your
time accordingly.
Overview of Digital Clinical Experiences (DCE) and Lab Components
Throughout this course, you are required to not only complete your standard course
assignments and discussions, but you will also complete DCE and Lab Components
that are either structured as optional or required assignment submissions. Please take
the time to review your DCEand Lab Components for this course that are required
submissions. See the table below and the attached table for specific DCE and Lab
Components for the course.
Note: Each Shadow Health Assessment may be attempted and reopened as many
times as necessary prior to the due date to achieve a total score of 80% or better, but
you must take all attempts by the Day 7 deadline. You must pass BOTH the Health
History and Comprehensive (head-to-toe) Physical Exam of at least a total score of 80%
in order to pass the course.
Week Digital Clinical
Experiences Lab ComponentsDiversity and Health Assessments NURS 6512N
Module 1: Comprehensive Health History
Week 1: Building a
Comprehensive Health
History
Module 2: Functional Assessments and Assessment Tools
Week 2: Functional
Assessments and Cultural
and Diversity Awareness in
Health Assessment
Week 3: Assessment Tools,
Diagnostics, Growth,
Measurement, and Nutrition
in Adults and Children
DCE: Health History
Assessment (assigned
in Week 3, due in
Week 4)
Case Study Assignment:
Assessment Tools and
Diagnostic Tests in Adults
and Children
Module 3: Approach to System Focused Advanced Health Assessments
Week 4: Assessment of the
Skin, Hair, and Nails
DCE: Health History
Assessment
Lab Assignment:
Differential Diagnosis for
Skin Conditions (SOAP
Note for differential
diagnosis)
Week 5: Assessment of
Head, Neck, Eyes, Ears,
Nose, and Throat
DCE: Focused Exam:
Cough
Case Study Assignment:
Assessing the Head, Eyes,
Ears, Nose, and Throat
(Episodic SOAP Note)
Week 6: Assessment of the
Abdomen and
Gastrointestinal System
Lab Assignment: Assessing
the Abdomen (Analyze
SOAP Note)
Week 7: Assessment of the
Heart, Lungs, and Peripheral
Vascular System
DCE: Focused Exam:
Chest Pain
Week 8: Assessment of the
Musculoskeletal System
Discussion: Assessing
Musculoskeletal Pain
(Episodic SOAP Note)
Week 9: Assessment of
Cognition and the
Neurologic System
DCE: Comprehensive
(head-to-toe) Physical
Assessment
Case Study Assignment:
Assessing Neurological
Symptoms (Episodic SOAP
Note)
Week 10: Special
Examinations—Breast,
Genital, Prostate, and Rectal
Lab Assignment: Assessing
the Genitalia and Rectum
(analyze SOAP Note)
Module 4: Ethics in Assessment
Week 11: The Ethics Behind
Assessment Lab Assignment: Ethical
Concerns
Next Week
To go to the next week:
Week 3
Learning Resources
Required Readings (click to expand/reduce)
Ball, J. W., Dains, J. E., Flynn, J. A., Solomon, B. S., & Stewart, R. W.
(2019). Seidel's guide to physical examination: An interprofessional
approach (9th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Mosby.
Chapter 1, “The History and Interviewing Process” (Previously read in
Week 1)
This chapter highlights history and interviewing processes. The authors
explore a variety of communication techniques, professionalism, and
functional assessment concepts when developing relationships with
patients.
Chapter 2, “Cultural Competency”
This chapter highlights the importance of cultural awareness when
conducting health assessments. The authors explore the impact of culture
on health beliefs and practices.
Dains, J. E., Baumann, L. C., & Scheibel, P. (2019). Advanced health
assessment and clinical diagnosis in primary care (6th ed.). St. Louis, MO:
Elsevier Mosby.
Credit Line: Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Diagnosis in Primary Care, 6th Edition by Dains, J.E., Baumann, L. C., &
Scheibel, P. Copyright 2019 by Mosby. Reprinted by permission of Mosby via the Copyright Clearance Center.
Chapter 2, “Evidenced-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines”
Melton, C., Graff, C., Holmes, G., Brown, L., & Bailey, J. (2014). Health
literacy and asthma management among African-American adults: An
interpretative phenomenological analysis. Journal of Asthma, 51(7),
703–713. doi:10.3109/02770903.2014.906605
Credit Line: Health literacy and asthma management among African-American adults: An interpretative phenomenological
analysis by Melton, C., Graff, C., Holmes, G., Brown, L., & Bailey, J., in Journal of Asthma, Vol. 51/Issue 7. Copyright 2014 by
Taylor & Francis, Inc. Reprinted by permission of Taylor & Francis, Inc. via the Copyright Clearance Center.
The authors of this study discuss the relationship between health literacy
and health outcomes in African American patients with asthma.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2015). Cultural competence.
Retrieved from https://npin.cdc.gov/pages/cultural-competence
This website discusses cultural competence as defined by the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Understanding the difference
between cultural competence, awareness, and sensitivity can be obtained
on this website.
United States Department of Human & Health Services. Office of Minority
Health. (n.d.). A physician's practical guide to culturally competent care.
Retrieved June 10, 2019, from https://cccm.thinkculturalhealth.hhs.gov/
From the Office of Minority Health, this website offers CME and CEU
credit and equips healthcare professionals with awareness, knowledge,
and skills to better treat the increasingly diverse U.S. population they
serve.
Espey , D. K., Jim, M. A., Cobb, N., Bartholomew, M., Becker, T.,
Haverkamp, D., & Plescia, M. (2014). Leading causes of death and all-
cause mortality in American Indians and Alaska Natives. American Journal
of Public Health, 104(Suppl 3), S303–S311.
The authors of this article present patterns and trends in all-
cause mortality and leading cause of death in American
Indians and Alaskan Natives.
Wannasirikul, P., Termsirikulchai, L., Sujirarat, D., Benjakul, S., &
Tanasugarn, C. (2016). Health literacy, medication adherence, and blood
pressure level among hypertension older adults treated at primary health
care centers. Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public
Health, 47(1), 109–120.
The authors of this study explore the causal relationships
between health literacy, individual characteristics, literacy,
culture and society, cognitive ability, medication adherence,
and the blood pressure levels of hypertensive older adults
receiving healthcare services at primary healthcare centers.
Required Media (click to expand/reduce)
Module 2 Introduction
Dr. Tara Harris reviews the overall expectations for Module 2. Consider
how you will manage your time as you review your media and Learning
Resources for your Discussion, Case Study Lab Assignment, and your
DCE Assignment (3m).
Accessible player