Purpose and Overview
The purpose of this assignment is for you to:
Describe encounters with culturally diverse patients outside the acute care setting.
Identify a changing demographic population of interest and describe that population’s related special needs.
Discuss ways to demonstrate a culturally competent approach when caring for members of the selected population.
Directions
Develop a 500- to 1100-word scholarly paper (2 to 4 pages, not including the title and reference pages) as follows:
Your paper should be based on the following three sources; you may also do additional research:
Case Study: Sara (See Discussion Forum 9)
The article by Bucknor-Ferron and Zagaja on unconscious bias
The paper by Albougami, Pounds, and Alotaibi
Introduction. Summarize Sara’s specific healthcare needs based on your cultural assessment.
Reflection
Identify your general feelings and attitudes (positive and negative) about Sara and explain why you may have felt the way you did (based on appearance, mannerisms, behaviors, etc.).
Explain any explicit and implicit biases you may have discovered during your review of the case study.
Identify strategies you will use to overcome the explicit and implicit biases you have identified.
Cultural Competency. Select an appropriate cultural competency model from those described by Algougami, Pounds, and Alotaibi that best fits your clinical practice and personal style and can be used to implement culturally competent care for Sara.
In your discussion, identify your patient as part of a changing demographic population of interest. Be sure to describe that population’s related special needs.
Discuss ways to demonstrate a culturally competent approach when caring for members of the selected population.
Conclusion. Write a concluding statement summarizing what you learned based on the case study, assigned readings, discussion forum, and research for this assignment.
You may wish to consult Chapters 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association for formatting guidance. Use Chapters 6 and 8 of the APA manual for guidance in writing style and mechanics. [MO 6.1, MO 6.2, MO 6.3]
Note: These directions and the grading rubric for this assignment will be used to evaluate and grade your assignment. Please refer to the details of each when preparing your assignment. A grading rubric for this assignment can be found within the assignment submission link in your course site.
Case Study to use for the paper:
Case Study: Sara
Sara, a 27-year-old Refugee from Somalia, comes to the free clinic today for an appointment with the NP. She slowly enters the examination room with the medical assistant and meets the NP. She sits down as instructed but does not make eye contact. She is very fidgety and wrings her hands. Her appearance is unkempt with a strong body odor. She speaks Somali with very little understanding of the English language. She answers questions with a very soft, almost inaudible voice, and appears confused at times. VS: 182/94-116-32-99.5F.
Reading her chart it is discovered that she is homeless and a mother of 2 children ages 18 mos and 3 years old, diagnosed with HIV 6 months ago with a viral load count of 300 copies/mL. Sara has admitted to using IV drugs for 12 years.
Sara came to America when she was 16 years old. She lived in a refugee camp for 2 years but left to strike out on her own. She did not attend school and became homeless. She has a history of Bipolar Disease.
Sara’s brother died of AIDS in Somalia and she is concerned with beginning treatment because of what she watched her brother go through.
