NR 305 Week 1 Discussion

Name

Chamberlain University

NR-305: RN Health Assessment

Prof. Name

Date

Healthy People Initiative (Graded)

This week’s topic asks you to apply learned knowledge to the following case study. As the school nurse in a college health clinic, you often encounter opportunities to promote health. Consider Maria, a 40-year-old Hispanic woman in her second year of nursing school. Maria expresses concerns about gaining 14 pounds since starting school, fearing the impact on her appearance and health if the trend continues. Upon taking her history, you learn that Maria is an excellent cook, and she and her family enjoy meals reflecting their Hispanic heritage. She is married with two school-age children. Maria attends classes for 15 hours weekly and spends 12 hours in labs and clinical work. She maintains the household by herself, doing all the shopping, cooking, cleaning, and driving for the children. Maria reports getting only six hours of sleep per night, stating she is fine with that amount. She commutes an hour each way to campus.

Gathering Additional Information from Maria

Before formulating a care plan for Maria, additional data should be collected to comprehensively assess her situation. Firstly, understanding her family medical history is crucial. Healthy People 2020 suggests that family history is an essential risk factor for diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Gathering information about her daily dietary habits, including portion sizes and frequency of meals, is necessary to understand her weight gain. Inquiring about her caffeine intake can reveal if it affects her sleep quality. Exploring her mental health and stress levels, as well as her coping mechanisms, is key. Additionally, assessing her physical activity level and whether she engages in exercise like walking is relevant, given her lengthy commute.

Maria’s Real and Potential Health Risks

Maria faces several real and potential health risks. Real risks include weight gain, imbalanced nutrition, and sleep deprivation, all contributing to mental and physical exhaustion. Potential risks include developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease, particularly if there is a family history. The combined demands of school, family, and household duties might increase her risk of chronic stress, leading to further weight gain or other health issues. Evaluating these risks and Maria’s ability to manage her responsibilities is critical to her overall well-being.

The Role of Culture in Health Assessment

Maria’s cultural background is an important aspect of her health assessment, as it can shape her diet, health beliefs, and attitudes towards medical interventions. For example, traditional Hispanic diets often consist of high-calorie, high-carbohydrate foods, which could contribute to weight gain. Understanding these dietary preferences helps tailor health recommendations that are culturally sensitive, increasing the likelihood of adherence. According to Jarvis (2015), “people from different cultures may interpret symptoms differently,” which underlines the importance of incorporating Maria’s cultural context when discussing her health concerns and formulating a plan of care.

Health Risks and Short-Term Goals

One significant health risk for Maria is obesity due to her recent weight gain. A reasonable short-term goal for this risk is to achieve a weight loss of one pound per week over the next month. This goal is attainable and can serve as a starting point for long-term weight management. Gradual progress will help Maria stay motivated without overwhelming her, considering her busy schedule.

Nursing Interventions for Maria’s Care Plan

Several nursing interventions can support Maria in achieving her short-term goal. First, encouraging her to keep a daily food diary will increase her awareness of her eating patterns, helping her identify areas for improvement. Weekly weight measurements can provide her with visual feedback on her progress, reinforcing positive behavior. Additionally, exploring the emotional factors influencing her eating habits could help uncover if stress or emotional triggers contribute to overeating. It is important to help Maria balance her responsibilities and introduce light exercise, such as walking during her commute breaks, to reduce her sedentary time. Furthermore, fostering a support system within her family could relieve some of her household duties, providing her with more time for self-care and physical activity. These interventions are grounded in promoting gradual, sustainable lifestyle changes.

References

Healthy People 2020. (n.d.). Genomics. Retrieved from https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/genomics

NR 305 Week 1 Discussion

Jarvis, C. (2015). Physical examination and health assessment (7th ed.). Elsevier.

Response 1

I agree that addressing modifiable risk factors such as diet and physical activity is crucial for Maria. Given her cultural heritage, creating a nutrition plan that includes healthier alternatives while respecting her traditional foods will make the changes easier to follow. Identifying a support system is also essential to help alleviate her household burden, enabling Maria to incorporate physical activities into her routine and improve her sleep quality, addressing mental exhaustion.

Response 2

I concur that further exploration of Maria’s coping mechanisms is needed, particularly around her eating habits and support system. If Maria’s weight gain is partly due to stress-related eating, understanding this can inform more effective interventions. Addressing her concerns about appearance and self-esteem could also reveal body image issues or depression, contributing to unhealthy eating patterns.