Sociology and Economics

Why Sociology Is Important to Nurses

In the old days, the study of sociology can only be conducted inside a classroom. A student simply can’t discuss the topic online like a subject in a class. Today, even those online nursing schools are offering sociology as one of their subjects.

Sociology is a field in science that concerns itself with social behavior. The origins and the development of a particular society takes its cue from the study of sociology. Sociology, at the outset, is not so much related to the study of nursing, but nurses who are knowledgeable in the study of sociology have at least an advantage over those who don’t. The study of sociology is so loaded with research, particularly on topics such as social processes or social change. In fact, many of those who are into sociology are into social policies as well.

If a nurse has at least an understanding of these social processes, that nurse might be able to conduct a patient assessment in a more circumspect way. Nurses interact with a lot of people. And the demographics of this crowd is quite diversified. This is where knowledge in sociology comes in. If a nurse has a comprehensive know-how on certain sociological issues, that would make his or her work a notch higher than a mere auxiliary to a doctor.

Not that nurses need to consider sociology as an entry pass to a more fruitful nursing career, but that every nurse should understand the relation of their duties with the social structure of their patients. Nurses provide care to their patients. And at times, providing care is not so much about giving them what they need, it is about knowing what to do with what kind of patient they have. They can only do that by having a clear grasp of their sociological backgrounds.

The Relevance of Sociology in the Nursing Profession

Sociology is defined as a study of human behavior inside the societal context. Despite its huge importance in politics, organizations, and other statistical fields, nursing students struggle to see its relevance in their chosen career.

Basically, there exist two kinds of sociological knowledge in the nursing course: sociology in nursing and sociology of nursing. Both these knowledge give nursing a different light. It’s like students are given a new pair of glasses, and look at everyday occurrences in a whole different way. But how?

The practical relevance of sociology in the profession depends on how an individual perceive what nursing is all about. If they want to find ways to cater the needs of their patients, nursing students need to understand their experiences with health and illnesses, what’s their basis of health, what is it like to live with similar disorder, and how society views of these people. In short, if one thinks nursing involves critical thinking and patient experience, then sociology has a lot to give.

Most students are intimidated with this subject matter and find it difficult. At a glance, one cannot easily connect sociology to the current practical context of the nursing practice. However, when students engage in wider social issues, they develop reflecting skills. Having these skills let a nurse become a care provider rather than just being too technical with their job.

The remainder relevance of sociology lies on focusing on contemporary research especially in patients with learning difficulties. The significance of this research lie on changing the stereotypical perception of people with learning disabilities that they are incompetent, inadequately capable of speaking for themselves, and thus needs to be given care. It also gives students valuable insight to what these people are going under to have a better understanding of their needs. Sociological research continues to expand and has become useful in the nursing profession.

Role of Sociology in Nursing

Nursing is more than just taking blood samples, recording patient data or assisting the physician. Nurses are well-educated and prepared to handle sophisticated tasks and procedures to best assist the patients towards recovery. Additionally, learning the medical terms as well as the procedures is not their only job. Nurses, to be more effective, must be able to learn the proper way of approaching their patients. They must also be able to understand how people think, feel and react. This may seem like a job for a psychologist, but it is very important to be able to provide quality and effective health care services.

As a nurse, you will be able to experience different types of patients with different health issues and from different social backgrounds. Patients react differently on a particular condition or medication which will have a direct impact on their recovery. Through the knowledge of sociology, nurses will be able to look past what is obvious. It will give them another perspective of the situation which will give an idea on what approach or medication to take.

Incorporating sociology in nursing helps develop skills that will make nurses provide nursing care to patients in a more effective way by considering many other factors and forces that directly affect recovery and care. Determining the factors that may hinder recovery or promote it may help avoid malpractice and fast track recovery.

The fast recoveries of the patients don’t just depend on the quality of the medicines the patient took or the use of the advanced medical facilities, it also depends on how well the nurses determine the true needs of the patient.

Nursing and Sociology

Sociology assists a nurse in understanding more the patients, how they think and react to certain medications, the same way psychology really does. The only real distinction is the fact that sociology does it from a “group” or “community” viewpoint. These are generally essential simply because apart from medical understanding, a nurse genuinely has to be kind, considerate and compassionate. The details learned by even a basic study in those fields might play a role toward being a kinder, milder, nurse. Furthermore, there are several ethical questions in medicine which may be partly covered using the research of sociology.

Nowadays, nursing goes past concentrating on disease and pathology to include a significantly wider concept of both ill health and personage. Nurses are significantly linked to producing sense and giving objective to life, disease and death.

Sociology is involved in study regarding human societies. Sociologists have concerns with comprehending society in a disciplined way. Sociology deals with difficulties which are generally subjects of major dispute in society, like the relationship between cultural class and illness, the changing function of religion, the rising of separation and divorce rate and the altering dynamics of work.

Sociological inquiry can light up that assistance and help understand the relationship between private difficulties like illness, premature death, and cancer of the lung and public concerns such as tobacco advertising.

Sociology may be of value to nurses in order to question the values and beliefs of their expert and the organizational framework in which they work. We have to comprehend the social forces which usually shape and restrict our lives to be able to modify them.

Being familiar with many people is very important. Think about this – a nurse has to inquire about if a customer is using illegal drugs. Without knowing this detail may cause the doctor to prescribe incorrectly. But how are you able to ask to get an honest answer? Knowing how people think can lead to learning how to phrase the question. Also being familiar with cultural differences is highly essential for too many good reasons to go into here. Nurses work with people, and they need to comprehend them. The participant who said – no significance is clearly ignorant.

Sociology in Nursing and Sociology of Nursing

The relation between sociology and nursing covers a couple of important aspects which help nurses integrate key sociological theories to their practice. Probably the most important topics you need to understand when relating sociology to nursing is the difference between “sociology in nursing” and “sociology of nursing”. If you are already able to understand the two, you will understand that the relationship between your disciplines is targeted toward the use of sociology to nursing theory and practice. This relationship focuses on developing abilities that better enable nurses to provide nursing decision to patients and considering sociological forces that naturally affect patient care.

Sociology of nursing concentrates on the sociological factors that evolve in the practice of nursing. Such subjects can include a nurse’s job concerns or revenue problems that are generally characteristic in the area of nursing. The main focus is around the sociological characteristics of nursing itself, while sociology in nursing concentrates on the use of sociology tools and theories in nursing practice and research. As the two subjects possess a different focus, both form an important relationship with nursing, targeted at enabling nurses to supply better patient care.

A research framework for sociology and nursing offers the first key link disciplines. Understanding sociology usually starts by having an effort to comprehend the social factors affecting a specific subject, or human social interactions in particular. Thus, nursing itself happens with a variety of social interactions between nurses and patients and between nurses along with other healthcare participants in addition to nurses and individuals outside the health care system like the relatives of the patient.

Nurses who’ve a good knowledge of “sociology in nursing” theory are frequently in a stronger position to know the requirements of their patients and just how to best accommodate individual needs from the social perspective. However, nursing managers who have a very good understanding with the “sociology of nursing” are more effective in attending factors that impact staff morale and also the efficient allocation of nursing staff. Application of sociological principles and findings within the field of nursing is the most obvious connection between the two subjects.

Health and Sociology

When we talk about health, we may only consider the biological or the physical aspect of a certain human being. However, health is a social issue and it may affect not just a single person, but as well as the community. That means sociology has an impact on health. The health of any individual may be affected by any social issue. The World Health Organization defines “health” as a ‘condition of complete physical, mental and social well-being’. As we can see, the WHO link health to the status of any society, culture as well as traditions and religious beliefs.

We all know the fact that the wealthy in most communities have more access to quality healthcare, medicines and services. The poorest in the society have the least access to healthcare; depending only on government support or NGOs. They also have the highest infant mortality because of inaccessibility to hospitals and medicines starting from pregnancy. The poor countries’ health is compromised by insufficient food and poor sanitation. This affects also the average life expectancy which is generally below 50 years. Roughly half the children born in poor nations generally don’t reach adulthood.

Standards of health within the Western nations such as the USA have greatly enhanced starting the nineteenth century. This is mainly because of better standards of living when industrialization advances the medicine and healthcare system. It was able to control infectious illnesses. Today, ill health in western communities can be indicated largely by chronic degenerative illnesses for example cardiovascular diseases, as well as cancers. Individual health-affecting actions like smoking cigarettes and drinking also have impact on the society’s health.

Promoting health in any society may be hard to achieve if the support is less, financially and legally. Improving the status of the society will also improve the health. The primary objective of any program should be to reduce inequities in health. Ever since then, health promotion has turned into a primary feature of health policy in any country. Giving importance on the study of sociology in relation to health will make a difference not just on the health of the individuals but on their status and way of living as well.

Sociology in Nursing

Nursing doesn’t just require skills, education or experience to be successful in the healthcare industry. It also comprises of other things like how the nurse deals and interacts with his patients. Sociology will enable the nurse to know the proper approach to different types of patients. There are patients who are moody and unapproachable because of their illnesses. Understanding how to deal with them will make the medication easier and effective. Through sociology, you as the nurse will be able to be sympathetic, compassionate and kind to your patient.

Nursing today takes more than just expertise in medical procedures but also by incorporating methods to the different approach on a certain type of patient. It is part of the responsibility of the nurse to give purpose to life, death and illness. Sociology has a bigger role in this process. Through sociology, the nurses are taught to engage in the studies in human societies. Understanding people in general is extremely important. If you are a nurse, you need specific information, some are very confidential, and that could be the basis of the medication. For an instance, if the patient is using any illegal drugs, you need to know how to approach without getting him offended. Getting that information will greatly change the prescription that the doctor will give to the patient.

Sociology has done so many things in improving the approach and the system of the healthcare system. Sociological theories have brought great light to the many features of illness and health. It has also brought valuable theories which leads to the creation of clinical tools. To become an effective nurse, you need to have the skills and expertise, but you need the proper approach and understanding of all your patients. Having all of this, you will be fully equipped and provide the most efficient services.

Public Sociology

In the last several years, the term “public sociology” has become progressively typical among sociologists. As President of the American Sociological Organization in 2004, Eileen Burawoy motivated sociologists to think beyond the educational custom of discussing our concepts only with other experts in educational publications. Burawoy described public sociology as “a conversation between sociology and publics” which could take on many forms: a weblog like this, which is designed to discuss concepts from sociology to sociologists and non-sociologists as well, for instance; and community activism, where sociologists use theory and analysis outcomes to create social transformation. Even educating our classes can be regarded a way of public sociology; most learners who take sociology programs do not become sociologists, but they are all members of a community. Considering sociologically is a device to analyze our lifestyles and our group more seriously.

Doing “public sociology” provides some difficulties too. First, discussing our analysis beyond the limitations of the self-discipline can mean our outcomes are misunderstood or misstated, sometimes in an attempt to make them easier to comprehend by laypeople. Part of what sociologists do is to try and comprehend these technicalities and to offer detail to daily problems that seem easy. The task of public sociology is to do our best to describe complex problems simply. We want sociological thinking to be part of the story, we just cannot always control how much sociology penetrates in.

We might scale from current analysis, but it is not unusual for journalists to ask us to talk beyond our specialty. A few decades ago, while discussing to a writer about analysis outcomes just like her story, she pointedly said, “you have not responded to my query,” as though I was an elected politician intentionally concealing something from her. We cannot always answer their questions, nor should we if they are too far beyond the opportunity of the analysis we are acquainted with. Another challenge with introducing sociological ideas in a community is that public discussion itself can be harmful, especially when governmental issues are involved. One sociologist who studies governmental motions was a regular target of a talk radio host and even got death threats.

Relevance of a Sociology Degree

How relevant is a Sociology degree? Most of us, when we are considering a major, want to be sure that we can find a job, generate sufficient wage and maybe even make our mark on the world. Learners often wonder what they can do with a sociology degree and parents may be hesitant to shoulder the bill for the study of sociology. After all, there are very few well-known sociologists, right? Actually, many well-known people, both past and present received sociology degrees.

First, let us discuss some sociologists who were well-known for their sociological work. Ever heard of WEB Du Bois, innovator in civil rights activism, who compared Booker T. Washington’s accommodationist state policies and had written The Souls of Black Folks? What about C. Wright Mills who had written The Power Elite, or Jane Addams, one of the creators of Chicago’s Hull House which offered public solutions to the poor, inner-city residents? More lately, sociologists such as Lillian Rubin (Worlds of Pain), Barry Glassner (The Culture of Fear) and well-known presenter, journalist, and connection advisor, Pepper Schwartz have obtained well-known interest with work that resonates with the American mind.

Considering going into politics and thinking what a sociology degree will do for you? Would you be amazed to know that former President Ronald Reagan double majored in sociology and economics? Or that first lady, Michele Obama, has a bachelor’s degree in sociology? Considering becoming a member of Congress? Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-NY), Shirley Chisholm (D-NY), Maxine Waters, (D-CA), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), and Tim Holder (D-PA) are all present or former Congress members. What about group planning or activism? Then you are in good company. Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., Roy Wilkins, Ralph David Abernathy, Jesse Jackson, Sr. and the father of community organizing, Saul Alinsky, all had sociology degrees. Sociology is actually an excellent major for individuals with a variety of passions. Because it concentrates on examining and knowing the world around us, it provides degrees with the capability to view problems from every side, and with the analytic resources to connect personal problems with social and traditional styles.

A couple of weeks ago, the Harvard Business Review released a brief content by Ronald H. Coase, 1991 winner of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics, where he laments the route that some economic experts have taken in the self-discipline. While, as contextualized by the terminology used in the item, I slightly don’t agree with some of Coase’s justifications, eventually I think my way of considering is more-or-less arranged with his. Mainly, my problem is that he eschews the concept of costs and source allowance, stressing that it’s “static” and too subjective to be useful in program. I don’t agree with the warning that he may be right when it issues certain micro-economists, because to me, the concept of the industry procedure is about anticipating the waves and change. While the concept of source allowance, or what Austrians like to contact the “market procedure,” will take up most of this post’s interest, I also don’t agree with the concept that economic experts ought to offer entrepreneurs with useful decision-making details.

The same relates to business economics and other areas, such as sociology. Financial experts frequently get charged of exercising “economism,” which represents use of business economics to areas or topics that cannot be completely described by economic concept. While these allegations may have basis, the fact is that business economics itself is an area frequently penetrated by other types of the research of man. I see ideas like “spontaneous order” and systems of concept like that offered by the New Institutional economics as proof of the impact of sociology, psychology, etc. In fact, several phenomena which researchers might like to categorize as “economics” can only really be described through the use of various different perspectives and methods.

Diverging momentarily from the main point, the value of history and sociology in describing complicated financial phenomena such as institutional growth and changes in the costs procedure have pressed me to discover concept that people traditionally understand as being well outside of the world of business economics.