Assessment 1: Reflective essay: Social Determinants of Health
Weight: 20%
Must Complete: Yes
Word Length: 1000
Students are required to comply with word and time limits. You are not expected to achieve exactly the required length, and a 10% leeway on either side is acceptable. The marker will not mark beyond the 10%. Only your work to that point will be marked against the assessment criteria.
Notes:Written assessment
Due Date: Is displayed at the bottom of this page
This assessment relates to:
Learning Outcomes 1-6
Task
You will write an essay in which you review the Social Determinants of Health (SDH) then choose one that you consider to be vital for a healthy life and can be modified. Choose a vulnerable group from the list below and describe how reduced access to that determinant could impact their health outcomes.
o A refugee group who has arrived in Australia in the last 10 years
o Incarcerated people
o People experiencing homelessness
o Veterans
Discuss what nursing actions could improve or facilitate accessibility to that SDH for the nominated group. You will be assessed on your understanding of the SDH and reflective practice.
1. Using Rolfe, Freshwater & Jasper’s (2001) framework reflective model (What? So what? Now what?), describe the SDH.
2. Identify one SDH that you consider to be vital for healthy living (provide evidence for your choice).
3. Explore why it may be harder for the vulnerable population to access that determinant of health and state why. This is the “What?” in Rolfe et al.’s reflective model.
4. Reflect on how reduced access to that SDH might impact health outcomes for your chosen vulnerable group. This is the “So what?” section of Rolfe et al.’s framework.
5. Reflect on how the nurse can take action to improve access to the nominated SDH for your chosen vulnerable group. This is the “Now what?” section of Rolfe et al.’s framework.
6. Provide at least two examples of the benefits (with justifications) for using reflective practice when working in primary care and community settings.
7. Explore why the NMBA includes reflective practice within the standards for practice
8. Present your work in Essay format, use headings (see template attached below), include approximately 5-7 references.
Assessment critieria
1. Describe the SDH, then using evidence to support your choice, identify one that you consider is vital to health.
2. Using the reflective framework develop by Rolfe and colleagues, explore the difficulties the chosen vulnerable group could encounter in accessing the identified determinant, and how reduced access could impact their health outcomes.
3. Explain what action/s a nurse can take to improve access to the identified SDH for the group and how reflective practice as described by the NMBA can by used in settings such as primary and community care.
4. Write a reflective essay using correct grammar, spelling and paragraphing. You may use personal pronouns (I, me, mine, etc.).
5. Apply evidence and adhere to APA 7th edition referencing style when citing in-text and compiling the reference list.
Readings
You should review the following sources before starting this assessment. These sources may be used within your reference list but you will also need to do some research of your own. A good rule of thumb is 1 reference for every 100-200 words within an essay.
Rolfe, G., Freshwater, D., Jasper, M. (2001) Critical reflection in nursing and the helping professions: a user’s guide. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan
Nurses and Midwifery Board of Australia [NMBA]. (2015). Framework for assessing standards for practice for registered nurses, enrolled nurses and midwives. Retrieved from: https://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Codes-Guidelines-Statements/Frameworks/Framework-for-assessing-national-competency-standards.aspx
Nurses and Midwifery Board of Australia [NMBA]. (2017). Registered Nurse standards for practice. Retrieved from: https://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Codes-Guidelines-Statements/Professional-standards/registered-nurse-standards-for-practice.aspx
