How does a persons difference in age culture race gender and living situation impact your comfort as a nurse in communicating with them?

Discussion Question:

1. How does a persons difference in age culture race gender and living situation impact your comfort as a nurse in communicating with them?
2. While growing up, how were OAs (older adults) treated in your family, culture, community and in society (identify the year range)?

Your initial posting should be at least 400 words in length and utilize at least one scholarly source other than the textbook. Please reply to at least two classmates. Replies to classmates should be at least 200 words in length.

Expert Answer and Explanation

Caring for Older Adults

Nurse Communication

The age of a person, race, culture, and the living condition has a direct impact on the comfort of the nurse to initiate and maintain effective communication. Nurses interact with different individuals of different ages on a daily basis, which makes age is a key factor in medical practice and caregiving. Interacting with young children or peers can be easier as a nurse can easily understand their needs as opposed to conversing with older adults. Culture and race aspects of the language barrier and the need to understand the patient preference before administration of care (Marcinowicz, & Taranta, 2020).

A female nurse can easily communicate with a female patient as a male nurse can communicate with a male patient regarding sensitive topics and how to mitigate the treatment. Direct proportionality can lead to discomfort when a nurse of the opposite gender has to interact and communicate with a patient who has issues that specifically relate to their gender. Living conditions have minimal impact on nursing communication but can affect other aspects such as patient’s accessibility.

Older Adults (OAs) in the Community

Growing up, OAs were treated differently from the rest of the individuals in the community and even within the family setting. OAs between the age of 65 and above were treated with respect and offered first priority due to fragility and consequences that come with old age. In the community, the young and energetic individuals were expected to take care of the elderly and help them with the daily operations that require energy and high strenuous physical exercise (van Groenou, & De Boer, 2016).

The elderly population is also at high risk for medical illness due to the weakened immune system and nature of their body. The society also has a role to play in caring for the OAs by having nursing homes where the elderly could be given special care and their medical needs be met.

References

Marcinowicz, L., & Taranta, E. (2020). Perspectives of older patients on the qualities which define a “good family nurse”: A qualitative study. Nursing Open, 7(3), 814-821.

van Groenou, M. I. B., & De Boer, A. (2016). Providing informal care in a changing society. European Journal of Ageing, 13(3), 271-279.