Evolution of Long-Term Care Systems

During the 1800s, and well into the 1900s, families took care of their own members whenever possible. Several generations lived together, with the younger generation taking care of the older and vice versa. Post 1900s, the joint family system started disintegrating.

Interview at least five people of varying ages from different families to know their perspective on disintegration of joint family system. Based on your interview findings and learning from your readings, respond to the following questions:

• What factors led to disintegration of the joint family system?
• What has been the impact of this disintegration on aging people and long-term care?
• Did disintegration have any benefits for health service organizations? Why or why not?

At the same time this shift occurred in the family structure, health care organizations were experiencing continuous changes in their operating styles. The long-term care system took some time to catch up with the changing nature of businesses. In the 1990s and early 2000s, long-term care was seen to experience several turbulent changes, particularly related to its operations, management, and structure. Research the South University Online Library and the Internet to find information on the changes in the long-term care system in the United States and respond to the following questions:

• How have the operations, management, and structural changes of the 1990s and early 2000s impacted the long-term care system today?
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of the present long-term care system in the United States?

To support your work, use your course and textbook readings and also use the South University Online Library. As in all assignments, cite your sources in your work and provide references for the citations in APA format.

Your initial posting should be addressed at 150-300 words. Post your response to the Discussion Area by the due date assigned. Respond to at least two posts by the end of the week. Be sure to cite your sources using APA format.

The learning activity and corresponding assignment in this topic  requires students to perform a heritage assessment with families  selected by students from their local communities.

Click on http://wps.prenhall.com/wps/media/objects/663/679611/box_6_1.pdf  in order to access the “Heritage Assessment Tool.”

Interview three families from different cultures. One family should  be from your own culture. Compare the differences in health traditions  between these cultures.

Assess the three families using the “Heritage Assessment  Tool.” In 1,000-1,500 words, discuss the usefulness of applying a  heritage assessment to evaluate the needs of families and develop  plans for health maintenance, health protection, and health  restoration. Include the following:

1. Perform a heritage assessment on three families. One of these    families should be from your own culture.
2. Identify common health    traditions based on cultural heritage. Evaluate and discuss how the    families subscribe to these traditions and practices. Address health    maintenance, health protection, and health restoration as they    relate to your assessment.

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA  Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to  beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for  successful completion.

You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin. 

Comment 1

The projected nursing shortage can incur significant impact to the nursing profession and to the public.  For one, the anticipated increase of the U.S aging population, this will put more strain on the nursing profession to find nursing to care for this population. At the same token, there is a great proportion of the nursing workforce that will reach retirement age. This will create an imbalance situation in terms of nurse-to-patient ratios. Such event will indubitably trigger anxiety, job burnout, turnover, absenteeism, and low morality within the nursing profession.

                             The nursing shortage can have adverse impacts to patients’ health-care outcomes. The public might suffer considerably from medical errors; nurses may have less time to spend and care with patients. As a result, the proportions of hospital readmission and patient death can increase exponentially.

The nursing profession will face with the urgency to provide answers to the nursing workforce disparity in relation to the growing aging population. Such ageing population are suffering from chronic diseases that require long-term care. That is, the nursing profession must increase the nursing workforce pool to compensate for the projected shortage.

                           One way that the nursing profession is dealing with resolving this issue is through public-private partnerships. Such a strategy can put emphasis on encouraging nurses to access to higher education so that they become nurse educator. This will require providing incentives to nurse. In the same perspective, efforts should be done to launch advertising programs that show positive aspects of the nursing profession.  Coupled with these, community leaders, healthcare associations, and Nursing Association should advocate elected officials to provide more funds to help the nursing profession.

Comment 2

The nursing shortage is not only related to the “baby boomers” retiring. It is also the qualified nurse not willing to work in the present conditions. These conditions are inadequate workforce planning, understaffed, poor recruitment, retention, return policies, and the ineffective availability of nursing resources. High patient to nurse ratios is causing the nurses today to have “burn out” and they eventually leave their nursing career. The failure to deal with the nursing shortage will lead to the failure to maintain and improve health care and it will have a huge impact on the nursing profession and the public. Addressing the nurse shortage and providing a more positive staffing environment in which the clinical practice can actually be delivered is a resolution to the nursing shortage. Providing a more positive staffing environment includes motivating the nurses, providing support, really looking at patient acuity and nurse to patient ratios, providing incentives on nurse retention and nurse recruitment. Nurses should be able to have the opportunities to develop professionally, have opportunities for growth, gain autonomy, and have a say in the decision making and truly be listened to by their managers and administration team. (Buchan & Aiken, 2014). Most individuals become nurses because they truly care and have compassion. They want to help people get better, this includes on their job along outside their jobs. Nurses take their profession very serious but there is only so much one person can do. Nurses have families also and should be able to come into work and take care of their patients in a safe environment and go home to spend time with their families at the end of the day.

Comment 3

The nursing profession is at risk of an increased shortage of nurses. The increased shortage of nurses can strongly impact health care corporations. In my current position in both the Nursing home/Rehab and the hospital setting,   I have noticed that when we have shortages nurses are placed at risk for harm. Nurses become responsible for increased workload, which can lead to physical and emotional stress. This places both you and your patients at danger. 

Another  issue that arise within my hospital when short staffed is the ability to admit patients. If we have reached a full census we are unable to admit patients from the emergency room. This will place the emergency room on full capacity, meaning patients will need to go to the nearest hospital. This potentially can delay care for patients that urgently need it. Management also prefers that we keep all of our beds full to ensure maximum revenue and with out the appropriate staff we are unable to do so. The nursing shortage is quickly approaching. According to The Health Resources and Services Administration “more than 1 million registered nurses will reach retirement age within the next 10 to 15 years” (AACN, 2014). This will create a major set back reinforcing the issue stated above. Many organizations are working on hiring young graduate students in order to replace the baby boomers class. This provides a company and the nursing community with longevity in an attempt to replace the baby boomer class. Many states are working to expand the nursing programs as well as create more in order to keep up with the current and up and coming shortage.

A 35-year-old comes to the  clinic. He states, “It’s getting close to allergy season and I need  something to keep me from getting sick. Last year the doc gave me a  shot, a spray, some pills, and an inhaler. They worked really  well but I  don’t remember what they were. Can I have those things again? I just  can’t afford to miss work.”

Please answer the following questions in a narrative format: 

1. Discuss the epidemiology of allergies.
2. What are your treatment options (consider pharmacoeconomic)? Compare first and second-generation antihistamines.
3. What education will you provide to the patient?