Public Health Nursing-Present, Past, and Future
Review the following case study and complete the questions that follow.
As a public health nurse at a free clinic, you are assessing and interviewing a 21-year-old woman who has come to the clinic because she doesn’t have any energy and hasn’t felt good in weeks. During the interview, you learn that she averages one meal per day, smokes up to two packs of cigarettes per day, and rummages through trash to find items she can sell to purchase food, snacks, and cigarettes. She admits to using street drugs every once in a while when she can find someone who will share with her. She admits her life is a mess and she doesn’t know how to make it better.
What data can you gather based on available client information?
What questions should you ask yourself while interviewing this client?
During planning, how can you, as the nurse, best assist this client?
- What are the potential strategies that would assist the client to a “better” life?
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction: In the scenario given, a public health nurse is assessing and interviewing a 21-year-old woman who is struggling with a multitude of issues affecting her physical and mental health. As a healthcare professional, it is important to gather relevant data, ask appropriate questions, and plan interventions that best assist the client in achieving a better quality of life.
1. What data can you gather based on available client information?
Based on the available client information, the nurse can gather data related to the client’s eating habits, smoking habits, drug use, financial difficulties, and overall physical and mental health status. The nurse can also gather information on the client’s living arrangements, access to health care, and any previous health issues.
2. What questions should you ask yourself while interviewing this client?
While interviewing this client, the nurse should ask themselves questions related to the client’s physical and mental health needs, the social determinants of health impacting the client’s overall wellbeing, potential barriers to care and interventions, and the client’s personal goals and aspirations.
3. During planning, how can you, as the nurse, best assist this client?
As the nurse, the best way to assist this client is to develop a care plan that is client-centered, holistic, and takes into account the social determinants of health impacting the client’s overall wellbeing. This may involve collaborating with other health professionals and community resources to address the underlying issues contributing to the client’s current state of health.
4. What are the potential strategies that would assist the client to a “better” life?
Potential strategies that could assist the client in achieving a better quality of life include providing the client with access to food, shelter, and other basic needs, connecting the client with social services and community resources, assisting the client in developing a support system, and addressing any physical or mental health issues through appropriate interventions. It is important to recognize that each client’s situation is unique, and interventions must be tailored to meet the individual client’s needs and circumstances.
