A. Cultural Factors/ethnicity Such As Regard To Elders, Perception of Health

A.

Cultural Factors/ethnicity such as regard to Elders,

Perception of Health
Cultural respect is vital to reduce health disparities and improve access to high-
quality healthcare that is responsive to patients’ needs, according to the National
Institutes of Health (NIH). Nurses must respond to changing patient demographics to
provide culturally sensitive care. This need is strikingly evident in critical care units.
Cultural competence can be defined as “developing an awareness of one’s own
existence, sensations, thoughts, and environment without letting it have an undue
influence on those from other backgrounds; demonstrating knowledge and
understanding of the client’s culture; accepting and respecting cultural differences;
adapting care to be congruent with the client’s culture,” according to Larry Purnell in
his book Transcultural Health Care: A Culturally Competent Approach (1998).
Differences of any kind: race, class, religion, gender, sexual preference, personal
habitat, physical ability, Good healthcare depends on sensitivity toward these
differences, Every patient is unique.
Individual is the “foreground”, culture is the “background”, All people share
common problems/situations, Not all people identify with their ethnic cultural
background, Every patient needs to be treated equally, Do not force someone
to have an intervention that is against their personal beliefs. Respect the integrity of
cultural beliefs, Patients may not share your explanation of causes of ill health and
not accept conventional treatments, Recognize your personal cultural assumptions,
prejudices and belief systems.Avoid letting your prejudices interfere with patient
care.
Another definition states that cultural competence “describes how to best meet
the needs of an increasingly diverse patient population and how to effectively
advocate for them,” says Barbara L. Nichols, former CEO of the Commission on
Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools, in NSNA Imprint.
Explanations of culturally competent nursing care focus on recognizing a
patient’s individual needs, including language, customs, beliefs and perspectives.
Cultural sensitivity is foundational to all nurses. “The nurse practices with
compassion and respect for the inherent dignity, worth, and unique attributes of
every person,” states the American Nurses Association’s Code of Ethics for Nurses.
Relevance
More than one-third (37 percent) of the U.S. population consists of individuals
from ethnic and racial minority groups, and by 2043, minority groups will become the
majority, according to research from the American Association of Colleges of
Nursing. However, nurses from minority backgrounds represent 19 percent of the
registered nursing (RN) workforce. Men account for 9.6 percent of the RN workforce.
There is a “challenge presented by the health care needs of a growing number of
diverse racial and ethnic communities and linguistic groups, each with its own
cultural traits and health challenges,” the NIH says. Nurses and other healthcare
providers must account for these differences through cultural respect to support
positive health outcomes and provide accuracy in medical research.
“The development of cultural competence in the nursing practice first requires us
to have an awareness of the fact that many belief systems exist,” says Lanette
Anderson, executive director of the West Virginia State Board of Examiners for
Licensed Practical Nurses. “The beliefs that others have about medical care in this
country, and sometimes their aversion to it, may be difficult for us to understand. We
must remember that we don’t need to understand these beliefs completely, but we
do need to respect them.”

Language barriers
Your assessment and accuracy of interpretation will be hindered when language
barrier is present if an interpreter is used, document their name and relationship in
some cultures, use of children is insulting to adults and seen as too much
responsibility placed on the child.
Locale of practice
Get to know the predominate cultures of your area the more you understand the
culture, the more effective a practitioner you can be know resources available in your
community.
Components of Body Language:
 eye contact
 facial expressions
 proximity
 posture
 gestures
Body Language - Eye Contact
Can play a key role in establishing rapport, Failure to make eye contact can be a
sign of dishonesty, Making eye contact can be a sign of disrespect in some cultures
(Chinese), Asians may be reluctant to make eye contact with a figure of authority.
Body Language - Facial Expressions
One of the most obvious forms of body language Can convey mood, attitude,
understanding, confusion, other emotions, Smiles are usually universally understood,
Smiling and winking can have different connotations

A. Cultural Factors/ethnicity Such As Regard To Elders, Perception of Health

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

A. Cultural Factors/ethnicity Such As Regard To Elders, Perception of Health

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

A. Cultural Factors/ethnicity Such As Regard To Elders, Perception of Health

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

A.

Cultural Factors/ethnicity such as regard to Elders,

You might also like