Nursing Capstone. Week 13 Final Project

Nursing Capstone. Week 13 Final Project. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the creation and implementation of a health promotion project by synthesizing all information collected throughout the RN to BSN completion program. Complex issues are involved with implementing effective health programs.  These issues arise from the unique barriers that exist in culturally-stricken communities as well as from the inherent complexity of the health care field.

Introduction & Problem Statement

In order to catalyze behavioral changes at a societal scale, health education programs must address the cultural and social dimensions of health care. This means that healthcare necessities will not be used unless accompanied by effective and culturally appropriate education.  When working in a different cultural and social context, it is necessary to engage with a community “from within” in order to build an environment of trust.  Culturally appropriate education efforts are tailored and framed from the perspective of the target community.  Thus, to develop a culturally relevant education program, one must engage strategically with local culture to look at the way in which culture influences lifestyle and behavior.

Trends and Statistics

Hillsborough County has a diverse population in terms of race and ethnicity, age, and

income. Chronic diseases continue to be a concern in terms of their incidence, prevalence, and

the impact they have on the quality of life of individuals, families, and communities. Various

health conditions continue to disproportionately impact minority populations. According to

current data from the Florida Community Health Assessment Resource Tool Set (CHARTS), of

residents who reported being of one race, about 78% were White and about 17% were Black or

African American. Collectively, Asian, Native American Indian, Native Alaskan, Native

Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander accounted for 3.7% of the population. About 23.4% of the

population also reported being of Hispanic or Latino origin. Approximately 14.5% of people

residing in Hillsborough County in 2015-2016 were foreign born; 85.5% were native, including

39.0% who were born in Florida. Among those, 24.2% spoke a language other than English in

the home.

Related Sources

Implementing a healthcare education initiative without an adequate understanding of the local culture can be counter-productive, giving rise to more problems than solutions. For example, when working in a new cultural environment, health workers cannot assume that other cultures readily share, or are ready to submit to, their philosophies and belief systems. Diversity: is a word that means something different to each and every person. The changing demographics and economics of our growing multicultural world and the long-standing disparities in the health status of people from culturally diverse backgrounds have challenged health care providers and organizations to consider cultural diversity as a priority. Peer reviewed and research articles have demonstrated that there is a direct relationship between culture and health practices. In fact, of the many factors that are known to determine health beliefs and behaviors, culture is the most influential (Hardwood, 1981).

The Client: Objective & Subjective Assessment

Mr. J.P is a 75 years old, male client, diagnosed with Dementia, Diabetes Mellitus and

Obesity. J.P resides in a small ALF in Town and Country area. Client’s general health: Patient

diagnosed with HTN.DMII and Dementia. Cigarette smoker for 15 years and does not like to

exercise or been in a diet, complaining of feeling tired, fatigued and mild headache. Blood

pressure: 160/90.

Case Study

The following Functional Health Pattern assessment is based on a 75 year old Spanish man who lives in an ALF at Town and Country Community. Some of the issues found during this assessment were the lack of knowledge, cultural barriers and the resistant to change his behaviors. For subjective and objective data please see above. The purpose of this case study is to present a model that will be helpful in providing culturally competent care.

Aggregates’ Demographics

The physical boundaries include Memorial Hwy and clear boundaries that indicates where the community ends and begins. The economic boundaries in this community are very distinct. The rural areas contain a mix of both high-low income housing. The age of the housing range from 1965-1990. The urban area has several new retail centers that keep themselves busy and well maintained. Very few people have been seen walking around or on the street. The majority of the community is Hispanics and a small American influence is noted too. Most of the religious establishments are Catholics but the community shows homogeneity in religious preferences. The primary method of transportation is the car, with a very few sidewalks so walking is not a viable mean. Few political campaign posters were posted on houses or in store windows. Party affiliations were not readily apparent.

Gordon’s 11 Functional Health Pattern