S.M. is a nurse practitioner in a large midwestern city. Today she is participating in a health fair at the Islamic Cultural Center. She is anticipating attendance by many families of Arab-American descent.
S.M. knows common health issues in Arab Americans include cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Her goals today are to gain the trust of the families she meets, learn about their health behaviors, provide education about healthy lifestyles, and arrange any follow-up care that may be needed.
During the health fair, S.M. assesses her clients risk factors, including person-dependent factors and
environmental-dependent factors. List at least 3 examples of a person-dependent factors and environmental dependent-factors.
Then, continue to discuss the 3 topics listed below for your case:
Define and describe the primary goals of screening.
Discuss your thoughts on the relationship between economics and nutrition. How would you advise people of low socioeconomic status to eat healthy on a budget? How would you respond to patients whose financial restraints limit their access to food?
Identify potential barriers to patient teaching and how you would address these barriers.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Addressing Health Concerns in Arab-American Families: A Nurse Practitioner’s Perspective
Person-Dependent and Environmental-Dependent Factors
Person-Dependent Factors
1. Genetics and Family History: A family history of cardiovascular disease or diabetes could significantly increase an individual’s risk of developing these conditions. Genetic predisposition plays a crucial role in the likelihood of these diseases manifesting.
2. Lifestyle Choices: Personal habits such as diet, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol consumption are crucial determinants of health. For example, a sedentary lifestyle and a diet high in saturated fats and sugars can elevate the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
3. Health Literacy: The level of understanding regarding health information can influence an individual’s ability to make informed health decisions. Individuals with lower health literacy may struggle to comprehend nutritional information or the importance of regular health screenings.
Environmental-Dependent Factors
1. Access to Healthy Foods: The availability of grocery stores that offer fresh fruits, vegetables, and lean meats can influence dietary choices. Areas with fewer supermarkets (often termed “food deserts”) can limit access to nutritious food options.
2. Cultural Influences: Cultural norms and practices can impact dietary habits and perceptions of health. Understanding traditional dietary practices among Arab-American families can help in providing culturally sensitive education.
3. Socioeconomic Status (SES): Economic factors, including income level and job stability, can affect access to healthcare and nutritious foods. Lower SES is often associated with limited resources for purchasing healthy foods and accessing preventive care.
Goals of Screening
The primary goals of screening include:
1. Early Detection: Identifying health conditions at an early stage allows for timely intervention, which can improve outcomes and reduce the burden of disease.
2. Risk Assessment: Screening helps determine an individual’s risk factors for certain diseases, enabling targeted preventive measures.
3. Education and Empowerment: Screening provides an opportunity to educate individuals about their health risks and empower them to make informed decisions regarding their lifestyle and healthcare.
Economics and Nutrition
The relationship between economics and nutrition is significant. Economic constraints can limit access to healthy food options, leading to poor dietary choices that contribute to chronic diseases. To advise individuals of low socioeconomic status on eating healthy on a budget, I would recommend:
1. Planning Meals: Encourage families to plan meals for the week, focusing on simple, healthy recipes that use affordable ingredients. This can help avoid impulse purchases of unhealthy options.
2. Buying in Bulk: Suggest purchasing staple items like grains, legumes, and frozen vegetables in bulk, which often have a lower cost per serving compared to smaller packages.
3. Utilizing Local Resources: Inform families about local food banks, community gardens, or programs offering fresh produce at reduced prices.
For patients whose financial constraints limit their access to food, I would emphasize the importance of prioritizing nutrient-dense foods over processed ones that are often cheaper but less healthy. Additionally, I would refer them to community resources that provide assistance with food access.
Barriers to Patient Teaching
Potential barriers to patient teaching may include:
1. Language Barriers: If patients are not fluent in English, they may struggle to understand health information. To address this, I would ensure the availability of interpreters or bilingual educational materials.
2. Cultural Beliefs: Cultural perspectives on health may differ significantly from Western medical views. I would take the time to understand these beliefs and integrate culturally relevant examples in my teaching.
3. Time Constraints: Many individuals may have limited time due to work or other commitments, hindering their ability to engage in health education sessions. To accommodate this, I would offer flexible scheduling for follow-up appointments and provide educational resources that patients can access at their convenience.
By addressing these factors comprehensively, S.M. can build trust with Arab-American families while promoting healthier lifestyles and facilitating access to necessary healthcare resources.
