CXA184: Nursing - Health Literacy - Case Study - Assessment Answer

Nursing Case Study Assignment

Assignment Task

The indigenous community in Australia refers to a group of people who descended from groups that surrounded Australia before the European colonization. Legally, they are categorized as such. Like any other person, they are prone to health issues, which may threaten to take away their lives or hinder them from performing some of the normal tasks. Health literacy is one of the major causes of health complications within Australia. This refers to the degree to which an individual can obtain, process and understand the basic health information. An individual is then required to use this information in making appropriate health decisions in their lives (Gerberding 2010, pp. 102). A majority of people are not aware of the basic health information that is available. For this reason, health literacy plays a crucial role in ensuring that people live healthy lives.

Health Literacy Issues

Taking care of our health is an everyday task. The health information is required to make good health decisions. Mark has a low health literacy level. Based on his actions, there is an indication that he is not making good health decisions that have an impact on his life. An individual is required to take a balanced diet every day. However, Mark has not been adhering to this principle. He has been working the night shift at his place of work (Sirgy, Lee & Yu 2011, pp. 103). For this reason, he often skips taking dinner at his house. Rather, he just rushes to work and grabs a small snack while he goes to work. This amounts to unhealthy eating habits. This shows that he is not health literate because he is not taking the necessary measures to have a healthy meal in the evening as is advised by the health practitioners.

Mark has been ignoring the backaches that he has been getting of late. As part of health literacy, he needs to do more exercises every day. Exercises have an important role they play in the physical structure of a body. Mark is not literate enough to know the benefits that physical exercises will bring to him. For this reason, he does not exercise often, and this has helped in contributing to some of the health issues he is facing (Kim & Shepley 2011, pp. 109). Mark should be aware of this information to ensure that he lives a healthy life ahead. As human beings age, they become more prone to diseases because the body is becoming weaker by the day. For this reason, Mark should implement various precautions such as healthy eating measures to ensure that he has a healthy life. However, Mark does not have this information because he is not working in a manner, trying to reduce the impacts of old age in his life.

Actions

Various precautions, or actions can be taken by Mark to ensure that he utilizes the information he has received to ensure that he lives a healthy life. However, it is largely dependent on the manner in which Mark interprets the information.

Diet

It is recommended that a person should take a healthy diet every day to help live a healthy life. Mark often did not eat healthy meals because he worked the night shift at his place of work. For this reason, he often did not take dinner at home. Rather, he grabbed something to eat on his way to work. This did not amount to a healthy living style. However, Mark can improve this situation by watching the food intake he eats every day. Because Mark works the night shift at work, he can adjust his diet to fit his current situation (Holtermann et al 2010, pp. 120). Mark can begin eating healthy meals at home, rather than just grabbing a snack on the way to work. Because he works in the night, he can take dinner at home before leaving for work rather than just grabbing a snack on the way to work. In the same way, he should ensure that he takes breakfast in the morning when he gets back home from work. Depending on his timings, the meals can be prepared early to ensure that Mark gets an opportunity to eat before he goes to work and when he comes back home from work.

Fitness

Physical fitness is something that is a necessity for a person to be healthy during the old ages of their lives. However, Mark has not been doing physical exercises. This could be the cause of the backaches he has been experiencing lately. Exercising regularly helps the body muscles to stretch out and remain active. This will reduce fatigue while carrying out the normal daily activities of his workers. To solve this problem, Mark could join a gym where he can be working out for about one hour every day. Another solution could be doing some exercises in the house whenever he wakes up to go to work. This will keep him active while at work. Also, Mark can choose to jog around his house or take long walks for a few minutes every day (Popovich 2010, pp. 96). These exercises will go a long way in keeping him fit. Lack of engaging in these physical activities is the cause of the backaches and pains that he has been experiencing lately. His sister who is a nurse has advised him to visit a hospital and seek treatment for the pains. There are various things that Mark can do to ensure that he engages in physical activities. His line of work requires him to use his hands frequently because of cutting the cooking ingredients and stirring the food. For this reason, he should strive to exercise his arms so that they become used to constant pressure they are exposed to every day.

Conclusion

Mark should have some health concerns because of his way of life. Health literacy I something that is of major concern to people. Health practitioners advise that people have adequate knowledge about healthy living practices to ensure that they live healthy lives and keep their bodies fit. Mark has a low health literacy level. This is based on the lifestyle he is currently living. He has begun experiencing some health issues, and he does not know how he has acquired them. Also, one should follow the advice given to them by health experts. During the old age, the body becomes weaker. This calls for the need to take extra precaution with the food, diet and physical fitness. Mark has not been engaged in physical fitness activities. For this reason, his muscles have often become fatigued. Exercises can be the solution for the pains he has been experiencing lately.