Response

DQ1 Yirlem        Traditional Chinese medicine has played an instrumental role in shaping the health care system. One of its underlying principles is the human body, which reacts to natural elements such as earth and water. The focus of traditional Chinese medicine is to balance the internal body organs and nature.

Traditional Chinese medicine aims to achieve a balance between health and diseases. Its primary objective is to balance internal body organs and external elements such as water and earth (Fontaine, 2018). Another critical aspect of traditional Chinese medicine is that bodies are directly related to natural ingredients. The human body also possesses the ability to heal itself from various diseases.

The traditional Chinese physicians believe that the body organs play an integral role in the healing process. However, they focused on prevention instead of cure (Zu & Zhang, 2020). The process of balancing the yin and the yang plays a critical role in combating diseases that affect people. Therefore, traditional healers have adopted measures to encourage people to embrace disease prevention. The goal of traditional Chinese medicine is to balance the human body and natural elements.

 

DQ2 Christ          Curanderismo is a healing tradition that is usually found within Latin American cultures (Fontaine, 2019, p. 104). It comes from the Spanish word for healing which is “curar.” In this practice, illnesses can be classified as either coming from a natural or a supernatural source (Fontaine, 2019, p. 104). Natural illnesses can include anything from genetic disorders, infections, or improper self-care (Fontaine, 2019, p. 104). Whereas, supernatural illnesses can resemble natural illnesses yet have been caused by either evil spirits or by a hex placed on the patient (Fontaine, 2019, p. 105). It is believed that these types of illnesses cannot be cured using western medicine treatments (Fontaine, 2019, p. 105).

Practitioners of Curanderismo are called “Curanderos” or “Curanderas” (Fontaine, 2019, p. 105). Curanderos can practice this tradition only if they have been given the gift of healing by God, which can either be passed on through inheritance or through a special calling to this particular practice (Fontaine, 2019, p. 105). There are three levels of care within this field, the material, mental, and spiritual (Fontaine, 2019, p. 105).

The most common level of care is the material level (Fontaine, 2019, p. 105). The healers that specialize in this level usually use both physical and supernatural objects, cleansing rituals, prayers and invocations in order to remove the evil spirits and purify the patient and their environment (Fontaine, 2019, p. 105). As a nurse in a predominantly hispanic area, knowledge and understanding of this belief can help me better serve my patients. It can help me communicate better as well as understand what some of their worries or concerns may be stemming from.

 

 

 

 

 

DQ#3 Tatiana          Crisis intervention aims to return individuals to their normal functioning before the crisis (James & Gilliland, 2016). I will explain to the client that I want to understand her reason for the decision and resolve it. I define the problem first before venturing into possible solutions. I will clearly explain that my role is to support the client through the challenge and determine whether she can choose a different path that does not lead to her death and sadness to her family and friends. In this case, I will have to explain to the client that AIDS is a manageable disease that millions of people live with worldwide. I will emphasize to her the value that she holds as a human being who has people who love and support her. I will also explain that the diagnosis is not the end of life but just a small hurdle to overcome.

I will then move to provide alternatives for the client. In her case, I will explain that if she accepts that she has the disease, she can move forward to having a better life. Having a better life will include beginning and sticking with medications and seeking medical help to ensure that she is healthy in every aspect. If she accepts this, I will create a plan of care that will ensure that she goes for her medication and adheres to it. I will also include a counselor to help her with the difficult period. I will also encourage her to inform her family and close friends about her condition and get support. The plan has to be approved by the patient, which includes getting a commitment that she will follow the plan. If I fail to get the patient’s approval, I will take necessary measures, including making a follow-up to try and convince her and following the Tarasoff guidelines to ensure the safety of those around her (Adi & Mathbout, 2018).

 

DQ#4 Yirlem          Crisis intervention refers to the time-limited measures taken to provide immediate stability to those in crisis. These interventions can be provided online or face-to-face. Each approach comes with advantages and disadvantages that result in some people preferring one approach over the other (Swan & Hamilton, 2020). Face-to-face crisis intervention is considered the better approach because it enhances confidentiality and allows therapists to factor in non-verbal cues in their assessment and therapy.

Confidentiality is an important aspect of therapy. Patients are more likely to talk about their problems when they feel that the information is protected and will not be shared with others. Even though encryption programs are designed to maintain the confidentiality of these sessions, James and Gilliland (2016) maintain that no assurance can be given that other people cannot access this information. The lack of guaranteed confidentiality makes face-to-face crisis interventions more appealing. Therapists who meet their patients physically record and store patient data in confidential documents that only they can access.

Face-to-face crisis intervention is more effective because it enhances confidentiality and allows therapists to use and interpret non-verbal cues to evaluate the patients’ behavior and responses to the intervention. Even with the use of video in online services, questions about ethicality and counselor competence are yet to be answered. Despite the growth of online interventions, face-to-face interventions remain the primary type, often supplemented by online measures.