Regardless of the type of health care system available, one recurrent issue is access to health care for underserved populations. For this discussion, underserved populations include minority and immigrant groups, the pediatric population, and women. These groups of people are consistently underserved worldwide in health care. As previously studied in Modules 1 & 2, we learned that according to the ANA, the nurse must care for people regardless of social, economic status, or nature of health problems. Also, the nurse must promote efforts to meet local and national health care needs. Serving the underserved population is the duty of the nurse. Read the following three case studies and respond accordingly.
Case Study #1
Roma is a single mother of four children, living as an illegal immigrant in Nevada. She migrated from Central America to the United States four years ago. Currently, Roma cleans houses to make money. Her children range in age from 14 to 4. Roma speaks broken English, but her 14-year-old son speaks fluent English. Roma does not have health insurance. There is a free health clinic in Romas community that has helped her and her children in times of illness. Recently, Roma has been severely fatigued, suffering from unexplained back pain, shortness of breath, migraine headaches, and stomach pain. The free clinic has prescribed antibiotics, but there is no sign of improvement. The medical doctor at the clinic would like Roma to go to the local hospital for further testing. Roma refused a visit to the hospital for fear of immigration laws and no familial support to care for her children.
Case Study #2
Maria is a 32-year-old woman with two healthy children, and she was recently displaced from her apartment due to a lack of payment. Maria has a complex medical history of HIV, contracted in utero. Maria has always had a difficult time holding down a job due to poorly managed viral loads and illnesses related to HIV. Maria is non-compliant with her medicine, but she states that her non-compliance is due to a lack of resources. Maria and her children are now homeless. They have been staying at their local homeless shelter. The children are due to register for kindergarten; however, they do not have any documented immunizations or visits to a pediatrician or a dentist, which are all requirements for admission to the local elementary school. Maria is embarrassed about their situation and has decided not to enroll the children in school.
Case Study #3
Peter is a 15-year-old boy who underwent a heart transplant when he was eight years old. Peter is currently in massive organ rejection related to non-compliance with rejection medication. Peter has a history of recurrent rejection related to non-compliance. Peters father works three factory jobs to make ends meet, is rarely home, and speaks no English. Peter speaks English and admits to not appropriately taking his medication due to both choice and financial issues. Peters rejection is irreversible, and Peter will need another heart transplant to survive. Because of Peters history of non-compliance, he is no longer a candidate for organ transplantation. Peters father does not understand, and Peter is angry.
This assignment will be comprised of four Journal Reflections. You will complete the journal entries and submit your answers within this assignment. This assignment should be completed in ONE document, and your answers should be separated by Journal Reflection # headings (4-7). Please contact your instructor using Canvas Messages with any questions you may have.
Journal Reflection #4
4. Why you are entering the health care field? What is your motivation for serving people in this capacity? Where does that motivation come from? (150 words: 10 pts)
Journal Reflection #5
5. Do you think health care is a human right or privilege? (300 words, 10 pts)
Journal Reflection #6
6. Discuss how the three case studies discussed in the module shows how a person from an underserved population has limited access to health care. What would you do to help an underserved person access health care on a personal level, professional level, and national level? (500 words, 20 pts)
Journal Reflection #7
7. After watching the video lecture, answer the following question:
Why is patient advocacy important? (500 words: 20 pts)
