Nursing

Assistance to patient/family in pursuit of HEALTH and HEALING “pull the plug,” such as in the Nancy Cruzan case. The battles with the late Dr. Jack Kevorkian have stretched these issues even further. Finally, although many daily practical activities are undertaken in the name of health—taking vitamins, practicing hygiene, using birth control, en- gaging in […]

Comparison: Medical Care and CULTURALCARE Medical Care CULTURALCARE Definition “The art and science of the diagnosis and treatment of disease and the maintenance of health” Professional health care that is culturally sensitive, culturally appropriate, and culturally competent Goals Prevention of disease and injury and promotion and maintenance of health Relief of pain and suffering caused

Through the Expansion of What in Medicine Is Deemed Relevant to the Good Practice of Life This expansion is illustrated by the use of medical jargon to describe a state of being—such as the health of the nation or the health of the economy. Any political or economic proposal or objective that enhances the “health”

Through the Retention of Absolute Control over Certain Technical Procedures This step is, in essence, the right to perform surgery and the right to prescribe drugs. In the life span of human beings, modern medicine can often determine life or death from the time of conception to old age through genetic counseling; abor- tion; surgery;

Through the Expansion of What in Life Is Deemed Relevant to the Good Practice of Medicine This factor is exemplified by the change from a specific etiological model of disease to a multicausal one. The “partners” in this new model include greater acceptance of comprehensive medicine, the use of the computer, and the practice of

Navigating the Amazing Maze of Health Care. (continued) 198 ■ Chapter 8 Class A person may be from a class that is not part of the dominant culture, limiting their ability to determine the need for health care and to understand the subtleties involved in making health care system choices. Education A person may not

Overcoming the Built-in Racism and Male Chauvinism of Doctors and Hospitals Students tend to have little difficulty in describing many incidents of racism and male chauvinism: that they are mostly women suffices and that they are nurses adds meaning to the problem. Classroom discussion helps identify subtle incidents of racism. For example, students may realize

Finding Out What Went Wrong What did you do the last time a patient asked to read the chart? Traditionally, you uttered an authoritative “tsk,” turned abruptly on white-heeled shoes, and walked briskly away. Who ever heard of such nerve? A patient asking to read a chart! Today, there is the “patient’s bill of rights.”

What is the doctor doing now and why?” These hypothetical situations are typical of the usual physical examinations that you may encounter routinely in a clinic or a private physician’s office. Sup- pose you have a more complex problem, such as a neurological condition, for which the diagnostic procedures may indeed be painful and complicated.

Figuring Out What the Physician Is Doing It is not always easy for members of the health professions to understand what is happening to them when they are ill. What must it be like for the average per- son who has little or no knowledge of health care routines and practices? Pretend that you are