The social context of nursing practice

This assignment will reflect on a scenario concentrating on ageism and will focus on valuing diversity and anti-discriminative practice. It will discuss how they are important to the delivery of care. I shall also discuss how I have developed and improved my interpersonal skills with both patients and colleagues and overcome barriers created through prejudice and labelling. Also considered is how the Johari window (Luft & Ingham 1955) allows understanding of the self and how that has an important effect on practice.

Using reflective practice I have gained insight into my strengths and weaknesses. Reflection is being able to link theory to practice effectively (Jarmen 1993). I have used my reflective diary to support this assignment.

English: Biggart Hospital, Prestwick This NHS hosp...

AARP

Peter Wessels Old Age Home (Community Reached Out)

Diversity is the quality of being different or varied (Smart 2000). Therefore each patient's needs differ and care must be delivered accordingly to suit the individual's needs. Diversity is an important part of daily life and is an issue in every workplace and I recognise that it is particularly relevant to the health care profession. Practitioners have a duty to provide appropriate care irrespective of gender, age, race, disability, sexuality, culture or religious beliefs (NMC 2002)

Discrimination is as unfair treatment of a person, racial group, minority based on a prejudice (Smart 2000). It occurs when an individual receives less favourable treatment than others in a similar environment or circumstances on the grounds of disability, gender, class, age, ethnicity, religion, race, soci-economic status or sexual orientation. (JMU equal opportunity policy 2003.) For example someone may think all elderly people are infirm and senile and so when they actually encounter an elderly person they are patronising or rude.

Stereotyping is a standardized image of a type of person (Smart 2000) Everyone stereotypes to a certain extent, we make judgements in our mind which effects...