Culturally Competent Nursing Care and Advocacy in Migrant Agricultural Health Essay

Case Summary

This case study involves Milagros Amaro, a 23-year-old Mexican-American agricultural worker. She constantly moves with her family from one area to another in search of harvesting jobs. She moves with her mother, Rosa, her husband, Reynaldo, and three of her children. Concerned about her family’s health and urination issues, she visited one of the migrant health clinics to discuss her family’s health with one of the nurses in the facility.

While Milagros is at the clinic, the NP finds it challenging to access the children’s immunization records because Milagros lacks proper documentation. Milagros’ husband, Reynaldo, is also reported to have a hernia, but he is not seeking medical attention, citing his immigration status and self-consciousness about the examination. The analysis of this case addresses self-reflection questions that a nurse caring for patients with a transient lifestyle needs to consider to address Milagros and her family’s care needs effectively.

Staff Response to Incomplete Immunization Records and Underlying Assumptions

Reflecting on one’s attitude, feelings, and beliefs towards those who live a transient lifestyle is a question that nurses and other care providers must address to render unbiased care to patients like Milagros. Human labor is necessary in the United States, especially for harvesting fruits and other crops. Moreover, individuals may migrate for job opportunities and other financial support to support their families. As presented in this case, Milagros migrates each season from one place to another to earn money by working on farms to care for her family. I do not see anything wrong with living a transient lifestyle since migrant workers are a source of labor.

Stereotyping is a significant challenge that affects the quality of care for a specific population group. Considering Milagros’ case, I do not reflect on common stereotypes, but rather emphasize the diversity of Hispanic individuals, as the population comprises people with different practices, beliefs, and cultures. According to Barber et al. (2020), stereotyping leads to misunderstandings and thus interferes with the provision of culturally sensitive care. In this case, Milagros’ family is portrayed as lacking permanent employment and a stable home. As a nurse caring for Milagros, I must acknowledge that individuals and families often engage in transient lifestyles, driven by the seasonal nature of agricultural work, which often leads to adventure.

Regarding the staff response to Milagros’ children’s incomplete records, the nurse may express frustration that Milagros did not take responsibility for ensuring that her children received the necessary vaccines. The nurse may not be sure whether the children received all doses and may not know which ones are still due. Moreover, as a nurse, it would be difficult for me to accept the oral verification from the mother unless I confirmed with the previous clinic that the children had been vaccinated. The assumptions underlying these responses would be the nurse’s concern about the children’s health and the desire for them to receive the needed vaccines. Additionally, the nurse would want to ensure the children’s health and safety.

Effective and Confidential Communication Strategies with Reynaldo

Nurses must also create care plans that respect patients’ preferences, privacy, and confidentiality. As presented in the case, Mr. Reynaldo is suffering from a hernia, and he is reluctant to seek medical help because he fears that his rights and privacy may be infringed upon. As such, the nurse must approach Reynaldo professionally and nurture an environment where the two can communicate effectively (Kersey-Matusiak, 2018). First, the nurse must be aware that the patient’s primary language is Spanish and should seek an interpreter if necessary. Moreover, the nurse should demonstrate empathy and respect patient privacy by protecting the patient’s data from unauthorized access.

Priority Health Concerns in the Care of Migrant Agricultural Workers

Effective care for transient people demands that nurses and other healthcare professionals be aware of specific health issues. According to Curl et al. (2020), health issues common to immigrant workers include sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS, TB, injuries, and pesticide exposure. Moreover, the nurse examining Milagros and her family must assess their weight, hypertension, diabetes, depression, and otitis media, as these have been proven to be common among immigrant workers. Furthermore, nurses must consider the importance of spiritual care and the role of religious components in patient management. For example, the nurse examining Milagros must understand her cultural and spiritual background to render culturally and religiously sensitive care.

Essential Nursing Attributes for Advocacy in Migrant Worker Populations

Caring for migrant agricultural workers is challenging; thus, nurses need several attributes to engage their patients actively. Kersey-Matusiak (2018) identifies cultural competence as a core attribute that nurses working with patients who have transient lifestyles must possess. Agricultural migrant workers come from diverse populations of different cultures and religious backgrounds. Thus, nurses are expected to possess knowledge of various cultures and religions to care for patients from diverse backgrounds effectively. Moreover, they need to demonstrate empathy and understanding toward the challenges that migrants face. Finally, communication, access to appropriate resources, and advocacy skills are other essential attributes that significantly contribute to practical work with migrant agricultural workers.

References

Barber, S. J., Hamel, K., Ketcham, C., Lui, K., & Taylor-Ketcham, N. (2020). The effects of stereotype threat on older adults’ walking performance as a function of task difficulty and resource evaluations. Psychology and Aging, 35(2), 250–266.

Curl, C. L., Spivak, M., Phinney, R., & Montrose, L. (2020). Synthetic pesticides and health in vulnerable populations: Agricultural workers. Current Environmental Health Reports, 7(1), 13–29.

Kersey-Matusiak, G. (2018). Delivering culturally competent nursing care: Working with diverse and vulnerable populations (2nd ed.). Springer Publishing Company.