It is essential that nurses are capable of incorporating theory into their practice. Recognizing fundamental concepts such as vulnerability is a crucial element to providing effective care. Vulnerability is an elusive concept that is described as part of the human condition (Sellman, 2005). The process of vulnerability itself is very individualized and may be presented differently for each person experiencing it (De Santis & Barroso, 2011). Within this paper, I will extensively explore the definition of vulnerability, the defining factors that embody the concept, and how the knowledge of this concept can influence nursing practice.
Defining Vulnerability
The term “vulnerable” is derived from the Latin words vulnerabilis and vulnerare,
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Social Vulnerability refers to risk as its primary element (Scanlon & Lee, 2007). Every individual is exposed to risk factors therefore; everyone is potentially vulnerable to health problems (Scanlon & Lee, 2007). Social vulnerability consists of various economic, democratic, and cultural variables in relation to an individual’s likelihood of becoming ill (Scanlon & Lee, 2007). The degree of social vulnerability is that an individual experience is greatly reliant on their personal capacity to tolerate adverse influences (Scanlon & Lee, 2007). Each individual will have different strategies and abilities in coping, resisting, and recovering from situations that could result in social vulnerability (Scanlon & Lee, 2007).
Physical vulnerability is a result of a person’s inability to resist further harm due to their current state of weakness (Scanlon & Lee, 2007). Heaslip and Board (2012) state that fatigue, weight loss, depression and insomnia are all physiological affects of vulnerability. Scanlon and Lee (2007) verify that physical vulnerability can result in advanced states of illness or even morbidity. Physically vulnerable individuals must accept support and guidance from others in order to receive appropriate treatment because they are more easily susceptible to additional problem due to their already weakened state, which compromises an individual’s capability to recover (Scanlon &Lee, 2007).
The concept of vulnerability can be seen on a daily basis in the nursing profession. From working effectively as a team to having difficult conversations with a patient, nurses must be engaged in their own feelings to understand how that can influence the way they provide care or deal with stressors in the healthcare setting. The purpose of this paper is to examine how the concepts of vulnerability, perfectionism, and shame from the book Daring Greatly (2012) by Brené Brown apply in nursing practice and leadership in the terms of empathy, patient advocacy, and nurse burnout. I will also discuss how vulnerability has changed my views in leadership and how I will use it in nursing practice.
375). For example, a person with a chronic condition such as cancer or heart disease may already have difficulty managing his/her condition and have less physical ability to cope with stress than someone without such condition. He or she may also be at risk or have other comorbidities, with each affecting the other. Moreover, resilience may be further decreased by their marginalized or disenfranchised status. They may be unable to maintain a full-time job, therefore, have inadequate salary and live at or below poverty level. This, in turn, “has an impact on his or her ability to secure adequate and/or safe housing, essential health care, and pharmacological services” (Lundy & Janes, 2009, p. 616). Therefore, vulnerability results from the combined effects of limited resources, which create a more hazardous situation (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2014b).
Resilience is defined as a person’s ability to weather adversity and come out of it with a stronger ability to deal with the next challenge (Mosby’s Medical Dictionary, n.d.). Resilience can be noted as a trait within an individual as well as a process through which a person undergoes during adversity (Jacelon, 1997). Measuring resilience can be done by assessing certain qualities within an individual and asking questions to elicit better understanding of their current psychological state (Wagnild & Collins, 2009). Nurses must have a thorough comprehension of resilience and how to measure and promote this among individuals who are met with health challenges. By doing this nurses are better able to provide holistic client centred care and inform the nursing profession.
Discuss how an understanding of nursing-sensitive indicators could assist the nurses in this case in identifying issues that may interfere with patient care.
The aim of this essay is to presents a critical analysis over the nursing dilemmas around capacity and her limitation by presenting example from the author’s practical experience. The names of the patients will be replaced with pseudonyms for confidentiality purposes according to the Nursing and Midwifery Council NMC(2015) Code of Conduct. Consent is often misunderstood. Mental Capacity is a complex topic and often health professionals tend to provide treatment which may be in the patient 's best interests but not always in accordance with his will and preferences thus adhering to Personal-Centred Approach. Further will be discussed Assessment of capacity and risk assessment, The Principle of Best Interests, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards(DOLS), accepting Advanced decisions if they are in place. Moral and ethical considerations asociated with mental capacity will be presented throughout the essay.
Communities are sometimes largely unaware that social factors rather than medical ones, such as income, and employment status, shape our health. Our health is also determined by the health and social services we receive, and our ability to attain high education levels, food and safe housing, among other factors.
In this assignment I will select a vulnerable population sub-group and consider how social science contributes to understanding the social problems encountered by this group. I will do this by firstly explaining and identifying and locating the chosen sub group within the broader societal context. Next by explaining why the chosen sub group is considered to be vulnerable with reference to relevant theory and research based evidence. Then I will be identifying and explaining the role of relevant agencies, both non-governmental organisations and governmental in relation to welfare provision for the chosen sub group. Finally I will discussing the role of social science in informing public health and welfare practice in relation to the chosen
Everyone is potentially vulnerable at some point over the extent of one’s lifetime. More specifically, everyone is potentially at risk of poor physical, psychological, or social health. The word vulnerable is defined by the Merrian-Webster’s Dictionary as “capable of being physically wounded” or “open to attack or damage”. Commonly, the word vulnerability indicates one’s susceptibility to health problems, harm or neglect. Some however, maybe more or less susceptible or at risk of poor health at different times in their lives, while certain individuals and communities are more likely to be at risk than others at any given point in time (Aday, 1994). Thus, vulnerable populations may be defined as social groups with an increased susceptibility to adverse health outcomes (Flaskerud & Winslow, 1998).
This essay will discuss ways in which a person’s socioeconomic class and his/her social situation can have an impact on his/her health, using examples. We believe that there is a direct link between socioeconomic/social class and health (Adler et al. 1994). I will be defining the key terms: socioeconomic and health, social class then proceed to discuss about how poverty, income, employability, environment and housing can impact on a person’s social situation and their health.
This essay will offer the rational for selecting this particular group and critically discuss their vulnerability. This essay will also discuss the factors that relate to their vulnerability as well as the impact this has on their overall health and wellbeing. This will be followed by discussions of
Vulnerability is defined as susceptibility or increased risk for health problems (DeChesnay, 2008). A group of individuals are considered at higher risk for illness when their physical, emotional, psychological, or social health, is compromised (Aday, 2001). There are many leading causes for why a population is considered at higher risk; socioeconomic, age, gender, demographics, personal, and cultural backgrounds are some of the key factors (Aday, 2001; Sebation, 1996). Individuals can become vulnerable at any time because of change in life circumstances, placing them at higher risk. One group
Resilience, fundamentally, is the ability to bounce back from hardship and the phenomenon of overcoming stress or adversity, for example: personal crises, poverty, mental illness and trauma (Occupational Health & Wellbeing, 2012). This skill can help individuals overcome the most difficult of situations (Occupational Health & Wellbeing, 2012). Resilience theorists generally agree that the presence of protective factors can reduce the effects of exposure to adversity. The more protective factors (or “assets”) available, the more resilient a person will be. Protective factors are conditions or attributes that help people deal more effectively with stressful events and eliminate risk. On the contrary, risk factors are attributes or characteristics
Stanhope and Lancaster (2008) define vulnerable populations as “those defined at a greater risk for poor health status and health care access”(p.712). The role of a public health nurse in contrast to a vulnerable population is to establish interventions to help break the cycle of vulnerability thus aiding to eliminate health disparities within the population. The term “risk” helps public health nurses establish a person probability of something happening to them. This epidemiological term is used with the triangle of host, agent and environment in contrast to ones health within a population. The author will discuss vulnerability as discovered within a community based on surveying the community and establishing risk and interventions on the
The determinants of health are economic and social conditions that affect people’s health status. These influence the living and working conditions that impacts people’s everyday living condition. Factors such as the place and the environment we live in, genetics, educational level or work status and income, as well as friends and family are some of the aspects that affects our health condition. On the other hand, the people that have an access to good health care and have financial stability are less susceptible and are often less affected. (NANB, 2009)
“Healthy individuals cannot survive when society is sick.” On the other hand, aspects of social structure influence health and illness. Social factors not only affect life expectancy, but the possibilities the one will experience diseases and in turn, the health care that they will receive.