Assignments

I enjoyed this simulation because it talks about not only the medical side of nursing but also the sociology aspect. It was also a fairly realistic simulation because the patients in a clinical setting do not always respond politely, they might not comply to treatment, worst case scenario, they might become physically abusive. This simulation dealt with a few social determinants of health (SDH), mainly working life conditions, housing and disability. When I was in RPN school, I was under the impression that patient will come to the healthcare provider to treat a medical condition and our responsibility ends there. After taking a sociology course, I learned that the root cause of some medical conditions are SDH. Such as the patient in the simulation who revealed that his he has to take stairs to get to his apartment and that he is on his feet all day at work. Treating his hip fracture may be a solution but it is a temporary one. But  a more permanent solution would be involve a social worker to provide resources on better housing and employment options. I believe the sociological way of giving care can change healthcare as a whole. In my clinical practice, I almost always take the patient's living conditions, employment and support system into consideration.