A Family in Crisis
- Read the scenario below.
- Respond to the questions in full sentences. Be sure to use standard English grammar and spelling
- What
biological, psychological, physical environmental, sociocultural,
behavioral, and health system factors are influencing this situation? - Is this a crisis situation? If so, what type of crisis would this be?
- What nursing interventions will you employ with this family?
- How might your interventions be different if you find that many families in the population are experiencing similar problem?
- What
Scenario:
Juanita
Brown is a 48-year-old African American single mother who live in a
rural community with three children, a 13-year-old daughter, an
18-year-old son, and a 9 year-old step-daughter, and her 72-year-old
mother who has been living with diabetes, hypertension, and is a breast
cancer survivor who is unable to walk and function independently. Her 69
year-old father died of a heart attack 5 years ago.
Mrs. Brown has been a widow for
the past two years. She has no other siblings. She has no marketable
skills and has not been able to find a job within her community. She
receives aid from the government through social security and does not
have any health insurance for her, the three children, and for her
mother.
She informs you, the community health nurse, that she feels depressed and does not want to live anymore.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction: The following answers provide nursing interventions and considerations for a family in crisis based on the given scenario.
1. Factors influencing the situation:
– Biological: The family members’ age, health statuses, and genetic predispositions to health conditions.
– Psychological: Mrs. Brown’s depression and feelings of hopelessness.
– Physical Environmental: Living in a rural community may limit access to healthcare and job opportunities.
– Sociocultural: Being African American may present unique challenges and discrimination in accessing resources and support.
– Behavioral: The family’s lack of marketable skills and employment, their reliance on government aid, and Mrs. Brown’s disclosure of depressive symptoms.
– Health System: The family’s lack of access to health insurance and healthcare can affect their ability to manage their health conditions.
2. Yes, this is a crisis situation. It could be considered a situational crisis, as the family is facing a specific event that has disrupted their functioning and presents a threat to their well-being.
3. Nursing interventions:
– Assess Mrs. Brown’s depression and suicidal ideation to determine the severity and need for intervention.
– Collaborate with social services to help Mrs. Brown access mental health resources and support.
– Develop a care plan with the family to address their health needs, including managing chronic conditions, accessing healthcare, and promoting healthy behaviors.
– Provide education and resources on job training and assistance programs to help the family increase their income and financial stability.
– Offer emotional support and counseling for the family members, including grief counseling for the loss of Mrs. Brown’s husband and father.
4. If many families in the population are experiencing similar problems, nursing interventions may need to be scaled up to meet the demand. This could involve working with community organizations and healthcare providers to provide resources and support, advocating for policy changes to address systemic issues, and promoting public awareness and education on health disparities and social determinants of health.
