N108: Transition to the Registered Professional Nurse

N108: Transition to the Registered Professional Nurse Role Study Guide of 171 The Impact of Demograph c and Cultural T nds The increase in the diversity of America’s population also increases the complexity of providing effective nursing care. Because the distribution of ethnic groups is not equal in all areas of the country, nurses may work in areas with higher concentrations of certain ethnic and racial groups. Nurses need to be aware of culturally diverse population groups and their typical health practices and understand the bio-physiological variations related to risk for specific health problems, development, and medication metabolism. They also need to understand the specific cultural values, beliefs, and health practices of the populations they care for. American consumers drive the delivery of health care. They demand the newest and best treatment and seek information from a variety of sources including pharmaceutical companies and the Internet. Nurses should be aware of recent developments in health promotion and disease management in order to remain effective educators and caregivers. Changing Roles In the past, the traditional family structure consisted of two adults living in the home with their children. Mothers would stay home and raise the children while the father worked outside the home to provide the family’s income. In the last few decades, the majority of women have started working outside the home. In a two-career family, parents have the stress of meeting work demands on top of the need to provide an appropriate lifestyle for their family. Some families may decide to delay starting a family while one or more of them finishes school or builds their career. Families that decide to have children need to find someone to care for those children while their parents are at work; nurses can assist families in both these situations. The increased divorce rate means that more children are raised in single-parent homes. Women are the head of most of these single-parent households. Some of these have reduced financial resources and may not be able to afford nutritious foods, adequate healthcare, or sufficient housing. Nurses can refer these families to local, county, or federally funded agencies. Healthcare agencies can assist single-parent families as well as two-career families by having weekend or evening hours. Teen pregnancy may also have long-term consequences for the teen mother and child. Many adolescents who have children will live at their parent’s home. Pregnancy typically interrupts the mother’s education which may affect her ability to earn an income sufficient to support her family. Changing Demographic Patterns The shift from rural to urban living creates additional healthcare issues. This creates specialties within nursing that understand the effects of aggregate living, pollution, infectious disease control, and health promotion. Immigrant populations may not share the language or beliefs of the current population. Undocumented immigrants may work in jobs that pay less than minimum wage and may be afraid to seek healthcare. People for different cultures may respond differently to illness and therapy. Nurses should seek to understand the cultural beliefs and needs within the populations they serve. ©2017 Achieve Test Prep Page 91

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