Final Project

For your Final Project, share some of your ideas on how you can use the knowledge and insights gained in this course to promote positive social change in a community/country and the world. It is advisable to select a community/country other than the one where you live.

To prepare for the Final Project, review all the week’s Learning Resources and consider possible issues you might encounter when implementing a policy.

Final Project (7–10 pages), not including the cover and the references:

In developing a policy in the country you selected, consider the following:

• Explain the rationale for selecting the country.
• Describe the social determinants of health in the country that you would need to address. Explain why you need to address these determinants.
• Explain the possible public issues you might encounter in health literacy and cultural awareness in this country.
• Describe the relationship between health inequality/inequities and life expectancy for the population in your selected country.
• Describe two current efforts in this country (you selected) to reduce health inequities.
• Explain how you might develop a health policy so that it gets the support of the country you selected. Note: Take into account the culture of the country.

Use APA formatting for your Final Project and to cite your resources. Expand on your insights utilizing the Learning Resources.

 

Discussion 2: Can Technology + Behavior Be Diffused?

The biological understanding of health and disease has evolved from miasmas (vaporous exhalation formerly believed to cause disease) to germs to individual risk factors tied to specific diseases. Now you are challenged by the knowledge that many people get chronic illnesses without having the known critical risk factors (e.g., smoking) that some may try to avoid in an effort to be healthy. The scientific revolution in health creates an even bigger challenge.

Stress and inflammatory processes are sometimes seen to be critical factors affecting our biology. The stress response helps us get out of the path of the oncoming car or shelters us from falling debris in an earthquake. But if we turn it on while we are stuck in traffic, angry at the boss, experiencing financial difficulties, or dealing with another rejection, it does not benefit us. While some may cope better than others, those who are economically less fortunate and have to cope with issues of poverty may be less able to withstand stressful encounters. Today, health and illness tend to follow a socioeconomic gradient, in which people in lower socioeconomic groups tend to have higher mortality than those in higher socioeconomic groups. In general, those lower down the ladder of income, success, and wealth will exhibit lower health outcomes than those higher up. Societies with a bigger gap between rich and poor do worse in health outcomes overall than societies with a smaller gap because there is more unhealthy stress in unequal societies (United Health Foundation, 2013).

There are exceptions to the gradient in health that present learning opportunities. For example, Latinos or Hispanics appear to have better health outcomes in the U.S. than non-Latino whites, a concept termed the Hispanic Paradox (New America Media, 2012). Reasons for this disparity are debated. One point of view is that the social support Latinos or Hispanics offer one another can counteract some of the adverse effects of having lower socioeconomic status.

For this Discussion, you consider how cultural and economic factors influence those biologic mechanisms that can result in disease for specific segments of the population. You also propose possible policy solutions to reduce the burden of disease.

To prepare for this Discussion, review the Learning Resources. Consider how the determinants of health you have learned about in this class can improve or worsen health for individuals and populations.

Post a brief description of a population segment (by race, ethnicity, economic status, geographical location, etc.). Then, explain the relationship between health inequality/inequities and common biological or behavioral risk factors that have been linked to a particular disease in that population segment. Finally, describe the relationship between health inequality/inequities and life expectancy for that population. Expand on your insights utilizing the Learning Resources.

Write an argumentative essay on the following topic. Take your position and support with the evidence and reasons. Evidence includes facts, data, and quotes. Evidence should be supported. 

• Do you think that technology is helping over society more or harming it more? In what ways?

           Follow an APA format. Write a five-paragraph essay. At-least, include two citations. do not forget to include References on a separate page. 

Evidence-based nursing is a process founded on the collection, interpretation, appraisal, and integration of valid, clinically significant, and applicable research. It is not about developing new knowledge or validating existing knowledge, but rather translating existing evidence so that it can be applied to clinical decision making. This process starts with formulating a sound PICO question. PICO is a format for developing a good clinical research question prior to starting a review or research. It is a mnemonic used to describe the four elements of a sound clinical foreground question. 

Scenario:

A 17-year-old African American woman, just diagnosed with hepatitis B, has been taking acetaminophen for headaches. Her mother has heard that acetaminophen can cause liver problems, and she asks you if her daughter should continue taking the drug for her headaches, considering her hep-b diagnosis.

Answer the following questions in essay format about the scenario above:

1. What is evidence-based nursing practice and why is it important?
   1. What is the PICO process?
   2. Formulate a well defined clinical question that will yield the most relevant and best evidence.
   3. Describe the background of the question
   4. Present the question using PICOT format
   5. Indicate what will be the best study to answer the clinical question.

Assessing and Treating Clients with Bipolar Disorder

Introduction

Bipolar disorder is attributed to the instability in the emotions of a person and may occur as a result of the genes of the patient. Stahl et al. (2019) record that other than the genetic possibility, the occurrence of a bipolar disorder may be blamed on the neurons or biological operation of the organs of the patient. Typically, bipolar disorder arises in the changes in the moods of patients frequently. A patient with bipolar disorder could be difficult to get the best diagnosis since the patient may have varying depressive moods and the diagnosis may be made wrongly to be other health conditions such as depression. A patient with bipolar disorder may, therefore, be seen to have symptoms similar to other health issues. This paper seeks to discuss the treatment for a patient who is diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Decision Point 1

The three options that are there for selection to help in treating the patient are Begin Lithium 300 mg orally Bid, Begin Risperdal 1 mg orally, or Begin Seroquel XR 10o mg orally at HS. The choice that is selected for the patient to use to treat the health concern is Begin Lithium 300 mg orally Bid.

Decision Rationale

Begin Lithium 300 mg orally Bid is selected for use by the patient for the management of the change in moods. The patient is reported to have swings in his moods and the use of this medication will help in the management of the frequent changes in his moods. This medication is therefore selected with the need for the treatment of the patient by handling the symptoms that are recorded due to bipolar disorder (Landersdorfer et al., 2017). The medication is expected to help in the management of the change in moods since it acts on the neurotransmitters and hence allowing for management of the moods that a patient may have.

Desired Treatment Goals

 The manic symptoms that are recorded are as well expected to be reduced by the use of this medication. As such, this medication is selected to ensure that the exaggerated moods of the patient are managed. Gozutok et al. (2019) add that the use of this medication is as well important for treating issues of anxiety and issues of having loud speaking.

Outcomes of the decision

After four weeks the patient is brought back to the healthcare facility for follow up and is found that the patient has not fully been compliant with the use of the medication since there are instances that he used the medication and in other instances did not use the medication. The patient is reported to have had no change in his condition.

Decision Point 2

The selected option for this case is the use of Begin Seroquel XR 100 mg orally at HS. The patient should have had an increase in the dose for the medication but there must be a change of medication. Other than the increase in the dosage, the patient must be educated on the importance of compliance with the use of the medication

Decision Rationale

The use of this medication is because it will help in the process of determination of the easy ways of management of mood changes in the health setting. Thus, there is an ease in the process of patient care to ensure that one can eliminate the process of change. These efforts that are taken into account are expected to help in ensuring that cases of mood changes are managed effectively as opined by Garriga et al. (2017). This medication is as well of importance in the process of management of the working of the neurotransmitters.

Desired Treatment Goals

Outcomes

The outcomes that are attained with the use of this medication are seen after four months when the patient makes a visit to the healthcare facility and it found that the patient has had an addition of weight. The patient as well points out that he has had an incidence of dry mouth and instance of constipation. The positive response found in this case is that there is an improvement in the mania condition since there is a reduction in the occurrences. The patient indicates that there has been a rise in instances where he has a good mood. The complaint presented by the patient is that the medication has had an extensive case of side effects. There is a need therefore for handling the side effect that is seen in the use of this medication to ensure that it does not affect the quality of well-being of the patient. There is a need as well for handling the issues of education of the patient on the healthcare measures that should be put into an account at all times for the best aspect of health that should be taken into account. The education as well should be in line with the need for having a better understanding of the challenges that are faced in the process of decision making and the need for compliance to the use of the medication.

Decision Point 3

The decision that is made in this case concerning the need for having a better direction of care that allows for the patients to be well informed of the best healthcare direction needed. There is a need as well for ensuring that the healthcare providers can reach out to the patients to ensure that the side effects of the medication are is handled. As such, the decision will be useful for the determination of the option that is attained concerning the side effects and the healing and making a comparison of the best option to be made. The choice, in this case, is to discontinue Seroquel and go back to Lithium.  

Decision Rationale

The reasons for discontinuing the use of Seroquel and go back to Lithium is because the use of Seroquel has resulted in side effects that may not be preferable and can be avoided. As alluded by Yatham and Kesavan (2017), the use of lithium 300 mg orally daily allows for the patients to have effective management of the issue of bipolar disorder and has fewer side effects as compared to the use of Seroquel.

Desired Treatment Goals

The use of this medication will be of importance in that it allows for the reduction of issues of noncompliance with the effective education of patients. The patient will have to receive education on the issues of compliance with the use of medication and the necessary options that should be handled concerning the process of care for patients. The patient as well should be informed of the expectation with the adherence to the use of the medication. This will be a motivation for the patient to adhere to the medication and get the best health standards.

Patient Outcome

The expectation for the use of this medication was to have a better health standard for the patient. When the patient comes to the healthcare facility for follow up after four weeks, it is found that the patient has a change in mood and that the condition of the patient has become better and that the quality of life of the patient has improved. The process ensured that there is an improvement in the quality of health and that the issue of manic moods is managed.

Ethical and Legal Consideration

In the process of provision of care and the treatment plan for patients, one must consider the ethical standards. First, the process of care mustn’t be affected by the condition that is in place and that the use of the medication should not affect the health of the patient. The healthcare providers as well should act in a way to ensure that the process of care for patients is genuine and that there is the avoidance of any issues of poor health. This includes the kind of medication that is to be used and the dosage that is to be given to the patient. It is the importance that they are in linewith the require protocols of management of issues of bipolar disorder.