Public Art And Communities’ Needs Sample Assignment

Introduction

Art is a visual expression of creative skills or imagination that viewers appreciate for its beauty. People also appreciate art, such as sculptures, paintings, murals, architectural art, or drawings, for their emotional power or aesthetics (Alle, 2012). Public art is a form of art displayed in physical public domains. The public nature of the art means that anyone can access it freely. According to Alle (2012), public art with a greater sense of identity creates memorable experiences. For instance, ‘the Death of Cleopatra’ by Edmonia Lewis fulfils the definition of art. Edmonia Lewis creates a sculpture with expressive and emotional power.

The over-size representation of the ancient Egyptian queen depicts the memorable moment when Cleopatra let a poisonous asp bite her (Gold, 2012). The Queen chose death over humiliation in the hands of the Roman conquerors. The sculpture of Cleopatra is an art by Edmonia Lewis, an artist among the first professional African-American female sculptors. She learnt her style, of sculpturing Greco-Roman art from various renowned sculptures. She is well known not only in her motherland, but also abroad. Her artistic career serves as an example of how to overcome obstacles on the way to success and respect.

How the art serves the needs of the community

Public art heightens the awareness of a viewer, whatever the meaning it tries to instill. ‘The Death of Cleopatra’ is a good public art, because it meets the subject, style, and medium associated with public art. The art is a representation of nineteenth century Victorian standards that shaped the view of public art in history (Gold, 2012). In relation to identity, the art meets the criteria through its display of the historical circumstances surrounding the end of the reconstruction era. The centurial context of Edmonia’s sculpture illuminates on the national ideologies and creoles of the nineteenth century. The art also reflects the ideas of the period, by conveying an undeniable majesty in the life and death of the queen (Gold, 2012). The pastiche with Greco-Roman details is an ambitious undertaking of an illustrious public art. Edmonia’s sculpture definitely meets the definition of public art.

How the public art is practical and challenging

Public art engages the community beyond permanence to serve its present needs (Fleming, 2007). Depicting the art as part of a community brings it to life. Artists and viewers appreciate Edmonia’s work for its direct attention in its own space. The art is imbued with deeper meaning that gives viewers new cultural knowledge. Fleming (2007) asserts that relating the art to the culture of the people gives a meaning that enhances the underlying identity of individuals. The sculpture depicts a sense of space that has evolved over time and reflects the social values that the community holds. The community character of the centurial era is a narrative of the Greco-Roman emperor. This narrative is further expressed by its historic and cultural context. Hume’s (1757) work supports that public art should create a harmony between the culture of the community at the present and before.

Harmonizing space and the subject

The death of Cleopatra balances conflicts between values and cultures of the past and future communities. The vision of the sculpture embraces the evolving culture of Egypt. The art challenges the local identity through its uniqueness, and requires a reflection upon the communal character represented in the art (Flemming & Goldman, 2005). How the art helps the community understand its historic and cultural context adds value to the development of a sense of place. Edmonia makes an art that serves the viewer’s cultural and historical needs. The public art expresses social ideals that symbolize a communal identity, which transforms individual relationships with the society. The art presents the cultural fascination of European and American countries with ancient Egypt.

Conclusion

The relation between the content and audience defines the ability of the art to respond to a place where a community resides. The art may be created to reflect the ideas of the period in which it was created. In the current study, the culture around the sculpture is intrinsically aesthetic as the art has closer ties with the community. Visitors to the site get the opportunity to interact with the culture and history of the community. Edmonia mixes the twist of fate with a curatorial concern that brings out an art that embodies beautiful expressions. The subject fulfills the definitions of art, making it a good public art. The space and subject harmoniously reflect the historic and cultural needs of the society. The representation makes the art practical and challenging.

References

Alle, E. (2012). Spatial, Temporal, and Social Dimensions of the Landscape Influenced By Contemporary Art. Science-Future of Lithuania, 4(2), 176-18.

Fleming, R. (2007). The Art of Placemaking: Interpreting community through public art and urban design. London: Merrell.

Flemming R. L., & Goldman, M T. (2005). Public art for the public. Public Interest, 159, 55-78.

Gold, S, W. (2012). The Death of Cleopatra / the Birth of Freedom: Edmonia Lewis at the New World’s Fair. Web.

Hume, D. (1757). Of the Standard of Taste. Web.

Emphysema, “Barrel” Chest, And Arterial Gases

“Barrel” Chest Configuration

Emphysema is a condition where the lung tissue is destroyed or severely damaged due to smoking or atmosphere pollution. It is characterized by individuals having trouble breathing and experiencing shortness of breath (Singh et al., 2016). It is also one of the main types of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Patients with emphysema may have a “barrel” chest configuration, which is characterized by the increasing space between one’s chest and back. This formation resembles a barrel as the distance between the sides of the body and the front and the back of the body becomes less distinct. This configuration may appear as a result of obstructed breathing which is the main issue of patients with emphysema. Blocked airways do not let the air pass freely, and damaged lungs become enlarged with the pressure from the trapped air (Davey et al., 2015). Thus, one’s chest expands to accommodate the lungs and the “barrel” chest formation appears.

Arterial Gases

The main issue of emphysema is the inability of the lungs to exchange gases and remove them out of the alveoli (Davey et al., 2015). Therefore, the test of arterial gases would likely be abnormal for the patient with evident symptoms of emphysema and a long history of smoking. The test measures the way gases leave the blood during breathing. Therefore, abnormal results can be expected in patients with emphysema due to their system being unable to remove carbon dioxide without complications (Singh et al., 2016). Moreover, it is likely that the body does not receive enough oxygen, which will also be reflected in the test. An imbalance in test results may show the signs of emphysema, which the patient has. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that CH’s results will be abnormal. In fact, the patient is more likely to have a low amount of oxygen and a low pH, which means that the blood is acidic. The patient’s lungs do not have enough ventilation to clear out the gases adequately, leaving no space for oxygen.

Emphysema: Possible Complications

Emphysema may lead to many complications. First of all, the respiratory system of a patient with emphysema suffers significantly due to the continuously deteriorating lung tissue (Davey et al., 2015). Thus, such issues as giant bullae and a collapsed lung may occur in patients who do not attempt to maintain their health. The first one is a process of large holes appearing in the patient’s lungs. These holes limit the ability of the lung to expand and may lead to its infection. Pneumonia may be one of the infectious diseases that can occur in a patient with emphysema. A collapsed lung may also be caused by bullae and already damaged tissue. Emphysema can progress and affect the lungs more severely after some time, raising the possibility of these complications.

Other complications may include conditions that are not directly connected to the respiratory system. The lack of oxygen affects all organs of one’s body and damages its overall health. For instance, some patients with emphysema may develop heart problems due to low levels of oxygen and enlarged lungs. The heart may be strained by the process of pumping blood and wear out quicker. Moreover, this disease also affects people’s arteries depriving them of oxygen and putting more pressure on them as a result (Singh et al., 2016). Patients that do not treat emphysema and have heart complications may have heart failure. The bone structure may also suffer because of emphysema and medications that can be used to treat it (Jaramillo et al., 2015). Furthermore, patients may feel exhausted due to their constant shortness of breath. They may not get enough sleep, which also leads to a series of possible complications.

References

Davey, C., Zoumot, Z., Jordan, S., McNulty, W. H., Carr, D. H., Hind, M. D.,… Shah, P. L. (2015). Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction with endobronchial valves for patients with heterogeneous emphysema and intact interlobar fissures (the BeLieVeR-HIFi study): A randomised controlled trial. The Lancet, 386(9998), 1066-1073.

Jaramillo, J. D., Wilson, C., Stinson, D. J., Lynch, D. A., Bowler, R. P., Lutz, S.,… Wan, E. S. (2015). Reduced bone density and vertebral fractures in smokers. Men and COPD patients at increased risk. Annals of the American Thoracic Society, 12(5), 648-656.

Singh, A., Kumar, S., Mishra, A. K., Kumar, M., Kant, S., Verma, S. K.,… Garg, R. (2016). Correlation between clinical characteristics, spirometric indices and high resolution computed tomography findings in patients of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Lung India: Official Organ of Indian Chest Society, 33(1), 42-48.

Chronic Kidney Disease Patient Nursing Care Plan

Target Group: CKD Patients and the Healthy People 2020 Objectives

Patients with renal failure are the target population the needs of which will be addressed in the course of the study. Particularly, adult representatives of low-income Hispanic families will be considered during the analysis. The identified goal aligns with one of the primary objectives of the Healthy People 2020 initiative, which states that it is crucial to “reduce new cases of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and associated complications, disability, death, and economic costs” (Healthy People, 2017).

Furthermore, the paper pushes the envelope by encouraging patient education as one of the primary tools for managing the incidences of CKD among low-income members of the community. The reason for choosing the topic in question is rather basic; although not being as discussed in media as other health threats, CKD remains one of the primary health concerns and is a “global health burden with a high economic cost to health systems and is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease” (Hill et al., 2016).

Holistic Plan of Care for Patients with CKD

When designing a holistic plan of care for Hispanic patients with CKD., one must bear in mind that the accessibility to care is very low among the target population members. Ttherefore, the plan of care will have to include the tools that will allow for efficient communication between the nurse and the community. Moreover, the issues associated with patient education need to be addressed. Finally, the necessity to carry out regular assessments of the patients’ condition will need to be recognized. Therefore, the following steps will have to be taken to meet the needs of the target population:

1. Careful assessment of the patient’s condition;
2. Development of the patient education strategy based on subverting the common myths about CKD;
3. Promoting communication between a nurse and a patient;
4. Encouraging the family members to support the patient;
5. Carrying out a kidney imaging study;
6. Providing the patient with the necessary treatment and administering the required medications.

Compiled Report: Summary, Retrospect, and Analysis

The analysis of CDK management among middle-aged Hispanic patients coming from low-income families shows that the awareness rates about the threats of CKD, its key symptoms, and the ways of managing it are disturbingly low among the target population. Furthermore, the further patient assessment has shown that there is a need to promote an enhanced communication between the target population and a nurse so that the quality of services could be improved significantly. Particularly, the promotion of patient independence and the provision of the necessary information to the specified demographics are crucial steps toward improving patient outcomes.

Particularly, the overview of the subject matter indicated that there was an urgency in developing a care plan. The case study analysis pointed to the typical issues that middle-aged low-income Hispanic patients are likely to have when developing the condition. Finally, the support need analysis allowed understanding what tools could be used to address the situation. Thus, the significance of enhanced communication was explored.

Nursing Diagnoses

When managing the needs of the patients that have reached the third stage of the CKD progression, one should keep in mind that comorbid conditions may have emerged over the course of the disease development. Therefore, it is imperative that the CVD issues should be addressed as well when managing the needs of the target population. Similarly, the problems associated with patient education and the management of their psychological needs has to be addressed. As the case under analysis shows, patients may fail to develop the appropriate coping strategies. The identified outcome is likely to result in comorbid psychological issues such as anxiety or even depression (Lee, Kim, Cho, & Kim, 2013). Thus, the following diagnosis need to be considered:

1. Low cardiac output;
2. Anxiety;
3. Inefficient breathing patterns (Chawla, Eggers, Star, & Kimmel, 2014).

Assessment Data (Objective and Subjective)

Objective Data

• Neurologic. The patient shows the propensity for a drop in attention levels, occasional fatigue, and sleep problems.
• Cardiovascular. There is a threat of an increased heart rate and blood pressure levels due to the rise in the fluid volume. Anemia should also be addressed accordingly.
• Musculoskeletal. General weakness, nausea, and vomiting can be deemed as the primary characteristics of the condition.
• Renal. Protein, blood, and particles can be observed in the patient’s urine.
• Skin. The patient’s skin tends to be dry, with a slight change in color (yellowish) and the development of uremic frost.
• Reproductive. No effects on the reproductive function of women can be observed. Foe men, the threat of erectile dysfunction becomes plausible.
• Serum electrolytes. A drop in sodium and calcium can be observed.
• CBC. A drop in hemoglobin levels can be witnessed.

Subjective Data

The patient is likely to complain about the instances of fatigue and sleep issues. In the case under analysis, anxiety was also reported as one of the reasons for concern. Coupled with the fear of miscommunication due to the differences in the patient’s (Hispanic) and the nurse’s (American) ethnic backgrounds, the lack of awareness about the severity of the issue triggered a rise in anxiety levels.

Interview Results

The interview aimed at detecting possible issues associated with the management of CKD among the target population (i.e., Hispanic people from low-income backgrounds) showed that there is currently a tendency among the target population to discard the significance of the disease and its symptoms, therefore, leading to the gradual aggravation of the issue. Most of the patients are middle-aged people from low-income backgrounds.

Furthermore, the interview also showed that the specifics of the cultural background of the target population define their attitude toward CKD, its severity, and treatment to a considerable degree. Particularly, the respondents that belonged to the Hispanic community showed the tendency to underrate the gravity of the problem (78% of the participants). Thus, there is a need to introduce the tools for enhancing patient education. Particularly, the promotion of knowledge and skills acquisition should be carried out by using consultations and social media as the means of convincing the target population about the gravity of the issue (Stevens & Levin, 2013).

Desired Outcomes

It is expected that the introduction of the identified approach will lead to a rapid increase in positive outcomes among the target population. Furthermore, the active acquisition of the relevant knowledge and skills among CKD patients is expected. Finally, the enhancement of family support is viewed as an important outcome.

Evaluation Criteria

The rate of CKD-associated problems among the target population will be used as the key criteria for the assessment. For instance, a drop in the development of heart issues among CKD patients will be viewed as one of the signs that the strategy has proven to be efficient. Similarly, the acquisition of the necessary behaviors and skills among CKD patients (e.g., the management of the urine bag) will be incorporated into the assessment.

Actions and Interventions

Seeing that the care plan is aimed at meeting the needs of the patients that are currently at the third stage of CKD, it will be necessary to introduce the tools that will allow determining the signs of possible kidney cancer development. Therefore, a more intense approach toward managing the patients’ needs is strongly recommended. Particularly, the following steps will have to be incorporated into the nursing care plan (NCP):

1. Determining the rate of the disease progression;
2. Addressing the associated risk factors (in the specified scenario these are: high blood pressure, the lack of the relevant knowledge, the absence of coping skills, and possible financial issues (e.g., the necessity to buy bags for the dialysis));
3. Retrieving the data from a detailed kidney imaging study and regular update on the patient’s condition (e.g., computer tomography (CT) or ultrasound (US));
4. Providing the patient with extensive information about the condition, the means of detecting the symptoms showing the aggravation thereof, the development of coping strategies, the acquisition of the relevant skills, etc.;
5. Offering the patient psychological help so that the appropriate coping strategies could be developed and that the patient’s vulnerability (i.e., the ethnicity and the challenges that cross-cultural communication entails) could be managed successfully (Ovrehus, Zurbig, Vikse, & Hallan, 2015);
6. Encouraging family support for the patient.

As the care plan provided above shows, not only essential nursing services for addressing the patient’s condition but also the tools for promoting active patient education must be incorporated into the process. The identified goal can be attained by encouraging consistent communication between a nurse and a patient. The specified objective, in turn, will be met by incorporating social media and other IT tools into the framework as the means of keeping the target population updated on the latest and the most important information about CKD (Campbell et al., 2016). Monitoring the patient’s condition is another crucial objective of the care plan.

Apart from blood pressure and the development of ulcers, the management of potassium levels must be viewed as a necessity due to the effect that diuretics have on the potassium levels in the patient’s body (Pitt et al., 2015). Furthermore, consultations must be provided along with training sessions so that patients could develop the skills such as managing their urine bag, identification of the possible health changes based on the color of the urine (e.g., purple or red as a result of the urine discoloration (Sriramnaveen et al., 2016)), etc. Finally, the significance of family support as the means of convincing the patient to continue the treatment and accept the suggested behaviors is crucial. Therefore, a nurse must also provide detailed instructions to the family members during consultations.

Evaluation of Patient Outcomes

The patient outcomes will be assessed based on the incidences associated with CKD (e.g., the development of comorbid conditions such as a heart disease due to an increase in the heart rate). Furthermore, the progress in acquiring and utilizing the knowledge and skills related to CKD will be included in the assessment as an important step in patient education. Finally, the assessment will include the information about the patients’ objective and subjective data. Thus, a comprehensive overview of the changes that the specified strategy will supposedly trigger will become a possibility.

References

Campbell, Z. C., Stevenson, J. K., McCaffery, K. J., Jansen, J., Campbell, K. L., Lee, V. W. S., & Webster, A. C. (2016). Interventions for improving health literacy in people with chronic kidney disease (protocol). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2(CD012026), 1-13.

Chawla, L. S., Eggers, P. W., Star, R. A., & Kimmel, P. L. (2014). Acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease as interconnected syndromes. The New England Journal of Medicine, 371(1), 58-66. Web.

Healthy People. (2017). Chronic kidney disease. Web.

Hill, N. R., Fatoba, S. T., Oke, J. L., Hirst, J. A., O’Callaghan, C. A., Lasserson, D. S., & Hobbs, D. R. (2016). Global prevalence of chronic kidney disease – A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 11(7), e0158765. Web.

Lee, Y. J., Kim, M. S., Cho, S., & Kim, S. R. (2013). Association of depression and anxiety with reduced quality of life in patients with predialysis chronic kidney disease. International Journal of Clinical Practice; 67(4), 363-268. Web.

Ovrehus, M., Zurbig, P., Vikse, B. E., & Hallan, S. I. (2015). Urinary proteomics in chronic kidney disease: Diagnosis and risk of progression beyond albuminuria. Clinical Proteomics, 12(1), 21. Web.

Pitt, B., Bakris, G. L., Bushinsky, D. A., Garza, D., Mayo, M. R., Stasiv, Y.,… & Weir, M. R. (2015). Effect of patiromer on reducing serum potassium and preventing recurrent hyperkalaemia in patients with heart failure and chronic kidney disease on RAAS inhibitors. European Journal of Heart Failure, 17(10), 1057-1065. Web.

Sriramnaveen, P., Reddy, Y. S., Sridhar, A. V. S. S. N., Kishore, C. K., Manjusha, Y., & Sivakumar, V. (2016). Purple urine bag syndrome in chronic kidney disease. Indian Journal of Nephrology, 26(1), 67-68. Web.

Stevens, P. E., & Levin, A. (2013). Evaluation and management of chronic kidney disease: Synopsis of the kidney disease: Improving global outcomes 2012 clinical practice guideline. Annals of Internal Medicine, 158(11), 825-830. Web.