Assignment Task:
4th Clinical Objectives and Write-up-SDOH
On your fourth clinical day, explore the following areas. Please answer all questions below, as well as complete the personal reflection questions. (This applies to all clinical locations)
For this assignment you will be expected to complete some pre-clinical reading related to SDOH. Read this article prior to clinical as it will assist with your reflection.
Social Determinants of Mental Health
Good mental health is integral to human health and well-being. A person's mental health and many common mental health disorders are shaped by various social, economic, and physical environments operating at different stages of life. Certain population subgroups are at a higher risk for mental disorders because of greater exposure and vulnerability to unfavorable social, economic, and environmental circumstances, interrelated with gender.
Collaborate with your preceptor and ask these questions:
Ask your preceptor what they know about social determinants of health as it relates to their experience working within Mental Health nursing. (Show them the info graph from above for a quick refresher). Do they complete any assessments with patients exploring their SDOH?
Can your preceptor think of a patient they've cared for where the social determinants of health for that patient were impacting their mental health? (Food insecurity, housing insecurity, lack of healthcare access/insurance, discrimination etc.)
Clinical Write-Up
Write a brief reflection (no more than two pages) about your clinical rotation. Please include these items:
What are the most common social determinants of health you've seen impacting patients, peers or your community? (List at least two)
Do you think these barriers could negatively impact the person's physical or mental health and how/why? Want Online Tutoring?
Using the table above and the contents of the article, discuss what you feel are the most important (priority) SDOH's to address? (There is no right or wrong answer, this is just your personal thoughts)
Consider and reflect on this scenario: The nurse is working with a newly admitted patient to the acute psychiatric unit where they work. The patient had previously been diagnosed with major depressive disorder and was experiencing suicidal ideation when they voluntarily sought admission to your facility for help. The nurse has completed a brief SDOH assessment as a part of the admission process and the patient screened positive for being "at risk for homelessness" and "food insecurity".
Once the patient is stabilized and out of crisis, what resources within your community could you recommend to the patient to address these needs?
Who would you reach out to on the interdisciplinary team for further assistance, and why would you reach out to that individual/s?