Discuss the usefulness of social science towards making competent nurses.

[grace87]

this is my asignment question. Can some nurses help me to offer me some ideas or comments on this topic?:welcome:

[gonzo1, ASN, RN]

I am so happy I am out of school and don't have to deal with stuff like that.

[njbikernurse]

Well, I guess by social science, they mean sociology and psychology? Both are very important to being a competent nurse. Understanding a patient's social status and background helps me to know what interventions they will be receptive to, and which ones they won't. Knowing about their cultural priorities, religious beliefs, and social support help me decide how to present information to them, and also help me to be less judgemental about lack of knowledge about their disease or their non-compliance with it's treatment. I learned a lot of sociology and psych doing correctional nursing, and it has made me a more realistic and straightforward nurse, which I think is ultimately being more competent. Hope that's what you meant.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

Cultural diversity would be an excellent reason for us all to sit thru a social science course

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Some would disagree with me, but I believe that Sociology is very important for nurses to grasp. Here's my reasoning for this belief...

Social class is a huge determining factor in everyone's lives. The lower the SES (socioeconomic status), the more likely the patient is to engage in unhealthy lifestyle choices (smoking, low quality foods, lack of preventative care, overweight & obesity). In addition, lower class people are less likely to avail themselves of healthcare until their health problems have snowballed out of control. In addition, lower class people tend to view healthcare professionals as 'authority figures' and, therefore, are less likely to ask their doctors important questions than their middle class and upper class counterparts.

Lower class children tend to become fully immunized at ages 5 and 6, when it is mandatory for public school enrollment. Upper class children tend to receive immunizations much earlier in life. About 47 percent of working class GED recipients are smokers, whereas less than 10 percent of upper class people with graduate degrees smoke. A new trend is emerging where lower class mothers are opting for Cesarean deliveries and formula feeding, while upper class women are deciding on prepared natural childbirth and breast feeding.

A while back, there was a thread on an uninsured middle-aged woman who was disappointed in her treatment at the ER. She had been having extremely heavy menstrual bleeding for years, but had never seen a doctor about the issue. People on this board were simply advising her to see her PCP. If these people were more knowledgeable about sociological influences, they'd realize that this woman probably has no PCP because she is uninsured, possibly lower SEC, and cannot afford to pay cash for doctor visits. She therefore allows her health problems to progress until they turn into emergent conditions. Also, lower SEC people tend to use ERs as doctors offices.

[gonzo1, ASN, RN]

The above responders have put forth excellent ideas. I need to stop posting when I am tired and my brain is dead.

Thanks for sharing ideas that I had "sorta" forgot about.

This is what makes allnurses so wonderful, the learning never stops.

[fultzymom]

Cultural diversity would be an excellent reason for us all to sit thru a social science course

:yeahthat: Our society has so many people from so many religions, national origins that I can see why it is important for nurses to take. And different econsomical groups of people are also different. That would be another reason to take a soc. class. JMHO

[grace87]

Cultural diversity would be an excellent reason for us all to sit thru a social science course

Thanks.

[pickledpepperRN]

I think cultural anthropology is also helpful for nurses.