Post Clinical “Finish the Story”

Please complete the questions below with thoughtful answers based on

your experience.
Think back to the process of caring for this patient.

1. You have now seen the patient. Where do you envision the
patient about 3 months from now based on your last encounter?
I hope to see the patient in better circumstances 3 months from now
based on my last encounter. During the time we spoke, we
communicated about how he could possibly go to some local food
banks, a list of areas around Columbia that offer free shelter while he
gets back on his feet and looks for a job and asking individuals from
church for a ride on Sunday so that he is able to maintain relationships
in his community. All of these things don’t address his issue on
obtaining insulin and diabetes, but I hope that he is able to get his basic
needs met so that in the future we are able to focus on looking at the
higher needs.

2. Describe, in one paragraph, your overall feelings about this social

determinant specific experience. Include:
a. What you found challenging
b. What you learned about the social, political, economic
factors that influence health
c. What did you learn about your role as a social justice
advocate for health equity?
The most challenging part about this experience was asking questions
that are often overlooked because I was so focused on the complication
of his disease and his current health. This experience has taught me
that baseline information is just as important. Additionally, this
experience has reemphasized the importance of how poverty can
negatively impact overall health. Employment, housing, transportation,
educational obtainment, social support, and discrimination “account for
roughly 40% of all health”. Due to this statistic its important as a nurse
to become a social justice advocate for health equity. Our role as nurses
is to be an advocate for every patient because we want them to obtain
good health outside of the hospital and further reduce rehospitalization
rates. By being an advocate and fighting for health equity we are
eliminating all the potential areas where an individual is receiving
inadequate health care based on factors that they can’t change alone.

3. List what could happen when patients at risk for or affected by

SDOH are not identified or when they are identified and have no
advocate from within the health care team.
If an individual who is at risk or is being affected by SDOH are not
identified or have no advocate to help them within the health care
team it becomes nearly impossible for them to be able to obtain good
overall health. I can’t imagine thinking about my health if I don’t have a
place to go home to or even food to eat. By not asking these questions
and addressing them we are not allowing any patient to success. It’s
just as much of our job to identify these risk factors and if they are
present so we can connect them to individuals like social workers or
resources like food banks, bus passes so that they are able to obtain
some form of health equity. Additionally, by alleviating these stressors
they will be able to focus more on their disease and taking care of
themselves.

4. Reflect on your current clinical practice; state the type of clinical

experience you are currently assigned. In one paragraph, explain
how this experience will influence your nursing practice.
This semester I am currently taking Medical-Surgical and Psych clinicals.
This experience has influenced my nursing practice because I have
realized the importance of asking questions about how patients are
obtaining their medications, where they live, what support systems
they have, if they are employed, etc. Before this experience, I always
assumed that it was someone else’s job and simply overlooked how I
also need to be the one to ask these questions so I can connect them to
resources during their hospital stay that will help them when they get
discharged. Overall, this experience has reemphasized holistic nursing
and why every nurse should pay attention to the whole individual:
mind, body, and spirit so their health can further ameliorate.