Care of the Vulnerable Adult
INTRODUCTION
For the purposes of this essay the Elderly Care Scenario has been selected. The aim of this essay is to discuss the concept of vulnerability and why the patient in the Elderly Care Scenario is vulnerable. With reference to the NMC Code, the second part of the essay will discuss how the scenario demonstrates/does not demonstrate professional values and how the staff could have empowered the patient and demonstrated respect and maintained his dignity. The third part then discusses the anti-discriminatory issues within the scenario and how it could be promoted. The final part is a reflection on the assignment and the lessons learnt.
THE CONCEPT OF VULNERABILITY
The human state of vulnerability is a concept of central concern to nurses, in that a large segment of nursing practice is spent either helping persons who find themselves in a vulnerable position or helping them stay away from vulnerability (Chesnay & Anderson, 2008). However, nursing, according to Spiers (cited in Chesnay & Anderson, 2008) has been slow in developing theoretical constructs of vulnerability within a nursing viewpoint. Traditional definitions of vulnerability are carved within an epidemiological approach to categorize individuals and groups at risk for harm.
Specifically vulnerability can be defined as “susceptibility to physical or emotional injury, susceptibility to attack, open to censure or criticism, liable to succumb, as to persuasion or temptation” (American Heritage Dictionary, 2000, p.1). On the other hand a vulnerable adult, according to the Department of Health (2000) is a person “who is or may be in need of community care services by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness; and who is or may be unable to take care of him or herself, or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation”.
From the Elderly Care Scenario the patient, Mr. Jones is vulnerable because of his age (73 years), health (having suffered a stroke several
For the purposes of this essay the Elderly Care Scenario has been selected. The aim of this essay is to discuss the concept of vulnerability and why the patient in the Elderly Care Scenario is vulnerable. With reference to the NMC Code, the second part of the essay will discuss how the scenario demonstrates/does not demonstrate professional values and how the staff could have empowered the patient and demonstrated respect and maintained his dignity. The third part then discusses the anti-discriminatory issues within the scenario and how it could be promoted. The final part is a reflection on the assignment and the lessons learnt.
THE CONCEPT OF VULNERABILITY
The human state of vulnerability is a concept of central concern to nurses, in that a large segment of nursing practice is spent either helping persons who find themselves in a vulnerable position or helping them stay away from vulnerability (Chesnay & Anderson, 2008). However, nursing, according to Spiers (cited in Chesnay & Anderson, 2008) has been slow in developing theoretical constructs of vulnerability within a nursing viewpoint. Traditional definitions of vulnerability are carved within an epidemiological approach to categorize individuals and groups at risk for harm.
Specifically vulnerability can be defined as “susceptibility to physical or emotional injury, susceptibility to attack, open to censure or criticism, liable to succumb, as to persuasion or temptation” (American Heritage Dictionary, 2000, p.1). On the other hand a vulnerable adult, according to the Department of Health (2000) is a person “who is or may be in need of community care services by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness; and who is or may be unable to take care of him or herself, or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation”.
From the Elderly Care Scenario the patient, Mr. Jones is vulnerable because of his age (73 years), health (having suffered a stroke several
References: Chesnay M.D, & Anderson B.A, (2008) “Caring for the Vulnerable” Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Canada. Department of Health (2000), “No Secrets”. Accessed on November 7, 2008 from http://www.devon.gov.uk/appg2.htm Eastman, M. (1984), “Old Age Abuse”. Age Concern, London. Fennell, G., Phillipson, C. & Evers, H. (1988), “The Sociology of Old Age, Open University Press, Milton Keynes. Page, N. & Czuba, C.E. (1999), “Empowerment: what is it?” A Journal of Extension, Vol. 37 No. 5. Accessed on November 10, 2008 from http: www.joe.org/joe/1999october/comm1.html Pritchard, J (1995), (Second Edition) “The Abuse of Older people: A Training Manual for Detection and Prevention”, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London. Social Services Inspectorate (1993), “Inspecting for quality: standards for the residential care of elderly people with mental disorders”, HMSO, London.