The Advantages and Challenges of Working within a Multicultural Workforce - Literature review Example

The advantages and challenges of working within a multicultural workforce Introduction Due to the global nursing shortage, Australia has had a highly multicultural workforce in the health and nursing sector. This unique environment has a set.of its own advantages and challenges that it presents in the workplace. The challenges of working in a multicultural environment are many and so are the advantages. As the environment in the workplace changes there needs to be a guideline, a code of ethics that is to be followed so that the professional standards can be maintained. Treatment and care of patients who do not understand or speak English is challenging. This therefore leaves the patients disadvantaged. Gorman, (1997) say that even though Australia is a multicultural society its health care system is mono-cultural he says further, that for this problem to be addressed the current services need to be developed in a way that makes it accessible and sensitive to the needs of non-English speaking clients According to the Commonwealth Department of Education Science and Training, people from non-English speaking backgrounds comprise more than 20% of Australia’s national population. A diversity of culture is represented which comprises of different needs and understandings of health and illness. Patients from cultural, spiritual and linguistically diverse backgrounds may be higher in some areas than others. Different cultures have different belief systems, which may cause under utilization of healthcare services. This is because their culture does not integrate science, art and curing. The Australian nursing and health workforce is also diverse and this makes it able to communicate in diverse languages. If the barrier to communication is language and it is broken then it is easy to reach to people. A majority of health workers speaks languages such as French and Spanish. Immigrants coming from countries that speak these languages can receive the appropriate medical treatment because communication has been made easier. The multicultural makeup of the Australian population is considerably varied in different parts of the country. the nursing profession must ensure that some cultural awareness is made. This is because cultural diversity can be a major issue. Though there are no specific polices exists in the Australian Nurses Registration Board concerning multicultural content of undergraduate curricula according to the Commonwealth Department of Education Science and Training. Leininger (2008) says nursing has expanded worldwide in providing culturally congruent care to cultures that in the past were neglected, overlooked, feared and avoided. She says that transcultural has had the goal of providing safe, meaningful and humanistic care to people of diverse cultures. This goal however has been promoted and maintained by trained nurses in the field. This new discipline in nursing contends that all cultures have he right to have their own beliefs and values respected for their health and well-being. Multicultural nurses are specialists who can diverse cultural forces that influence illness and wellbeing .They serve by helping immigrants adjust to complex and difficult situations in meaningful ways says Leininger (2008). A study of culture is essential in the advancement of nursing care knowledge in identifying practices that are beneficial to cultures. As globalization transforms all sectors of the economy healthcare will be transformed from being unicultural to multicultural. Providing culturally competent care is a universal standard, which will save lives when achieved. By promoting skills and knowledge that achieve cultural competence in clinical practice it is likely to change the health policy. Leininger, (2008) says that best practice in health care for a multicultural society requires consideration of cultural as well as clinical imperatives. The diverse cultural backgrounds and needs of people should be taken into account when developing care. Papadopoulos, (2006) argues that care is the central unifying domain that characterizes nursing. She says that if nurses do not practice transcultural nursing then their practices risk being non- therapeutic. Kanitsaki, (2000) when she says that such nursing is toxic, further augments this argument. Knowing how care is conceptualized and practiced is varied in different cultures. Multicultural nursing in Australia started in the mid 1950s and 1960s according to Leininger (2003). The steady growth of the immigrant population in Australia raised the question of the plight of their children’s education due to the language problem. These concerns were not only limited to the schooling problems but also to healthcare access. These concerns about the monocultural healthcare system and the possible concerns that it could have on people from diverse cultural backgrounds was looked into. Multicultural nursing theory and practice provide a means in which caring and healing knowledge and practices can Purnell & Paulanka, (1998) says that education in transcultural nursing has had an impact in the development of cultural sensitivity for individualized clinical approaches. Cultural knowledge is important in because if a patient does not respond the way the nurse expected, the nurse can view it as unconcern or resistance. Effective intercultural communication should take place so that the nurse can successfully provide care for a patient from a different background. Identifying and reaching common ground in communication is important. A variety of multicultural groups has different explanations for disease and health. Traditional beliefs about causes of disease and treatment can be seen as complex and dynamic. Failure to understand and appreciate these differences affects the success or failure of any campaign efforts for disease control and eradication. The health concepts held by people determines whether they will seek medical treatment. Having an understanding of the differences in culture helps in being sensitive to the special beliefs and practices of a multicultural group. Being aware of traditional concepts of causes of illnesses in different cultures is important. The requirements that some cultures require to use traditional healers and medicine men before being treated by conventional medicine should be respected. By being respectful to these cultures nurses can be able to better execute their job. Language is a primary form of transmitting culture and so learning the language is beneficial for a nurse working in a multicultural environment. Culture is learned through formal and informal experiences by each generation. Therefore, the practices have been learned for a long time and have remained constant for a long period. An in-depth examination of oneself illuminates the biasness towards other people’s culture and way of life. The cultural background of a patient is important in planning for the care of a patient. Though all people have the same basic needs we differ in the way these needs are met. Culture will influence the way a person seeks to meet those needs in the future. The religious beliefs of a patient may influence the way a patient may provide resources for encounters with illnesses. The incorporation of culture in the treatment and care of patients there has been need to incorporate chaplain services in hospitals and therapies from the East. This emphasis on care of the patient rather than attention and the recognition of the physician as a dynamic component of that relationship strengthens the commitment to relationship-centered medicine. Transcultural nursing therefore tries to understand the differences and similarities across groups. Nursing should therefore provide care that fits the values of people rather than based on criteria. Andrews & Boyle (2008) says that a nurse should discover the patient’s practices as it relates to their nursing and health requirements. By doing this, the nurse establishes a partnership with not only the patient but also the patient’s family and is therefore able to bridge the cultural gap and work with cultural differences. Nursing decisions according to Jeffreys (2006) are three, which are meant to assist people of particular cultures. Retaining and preserving relevant care values in maintaing the well-being of a patient. Negotiating with others for a satisfying health outcome. Modifying a patient’s life for a new and beneficial health care pattern. In Australia, every immigrant group has its own cultural inclinations. Health and disease is interpreted differently based on their culture. These responses are culture specific because they are based on perception. These perceptions have countless ways of explaining different phenomena including health and diseases. In Caucasian families, it is the females that have dominant roles but this is not the case in many cultures. Most cultures the males are dominant figures while the women passive. Knowing who the dominant member of the family is important in planning nursing care, cases where there has to be follow up the dominant member of the family needs to be consulted so that appropriate care is taken. Understanding these differences as a nurse helps in being sensitive to the practices of different people. As a nurse, dealing with people with metal illnesses in a multicultural community it is important to know the beliefs associated with these types of illnesses. Some cultures believe that mental illnesses are because of evil spirits. Others believe that it is caused by transgressions in the previous life. However, mental wellness happens when the physiologic and psychological functions are integrated. The nurse should do a background assessment of a patient’s cultural heritage and language skills. The beliefs of the patient in relation to the cause of the illness should be established. The attitude towards their illness normally determines whether they respond to treatment or not. The nurse cannot act the same towards all the patients because as a nurse one should not ignore or fail to acknowledge the cultural differences that exist. By acting the same with all clients, the nurse will be ineffective and cannot deliver holistic care. By carrying out an assessment, the nurse will be able to make a diagnosis based on clustering the data. This diagnosis should include the probable cause. Identifying the problem will individualize the nursing care plan and appropriate cultural interventions made to the problem. Incorporating cultural beliefs into therapy helps in the nursing process. In our multicultural society, it is important for nurses to be knowledgeable in multicultural practices. Understanding the views of the patient while avoiding stereotypes. Being culturally competent in obtaining the cultural information and then applying that knowledge. This awareness improves the quality of care because it allows us to see the bigger picture. Misapplication of scientific knowledge will not occur because of taking the time to know more about the patient Being culturally competent enables a nurse to find out about the patient’s beliefs and the appropriate care that influence health behaviors. Being culturally competent as a nurse is to learn how to mix a little cultural understanding with the nursing care being offered. In parts of Australia, varied patient populations have long been the norm. Immigrants from all over the world have now made Australia their second home. Very few places in Australia still have homogeneous populations. This cultural diversity provides a mix of challenges and opportunities. Culture affects the way people seek healthcare and their behaviors towards the healthcare providers. How we care for patients and how they respond is greatly influenced by culture. Possessing the ability and knowledge to understand influence of culture on health behaviors will improve on service delivery and reduce misdiagnosis. Conclusion Globalization has made the world smaller because of migration. The demand on nurses and health professional to better understand many cultures ha become increasingly important. In Australia, there are many cultural differences in various regions that are why the Australian Nursing and Midwifery council has developed standards of practice for culturally competent nursing care. Nurses in multicultural environments focus on the similarities and differences among cultures in order to provide appropriate healthcare based on the values and beliefs of the patients. The multiple cultural backgrounds have facilitated the nursing profession to look at its practices. Being a monoculture institution in a multicultural environment. Nursing and care has taken a different turn because of incorporating aspects of culture in the treatment and care of patients. Having chaplains, meditation and aspects of the Eastern religion is now part of mainstream medicine. Schools now have cultural studies being incorporated as part of the nursing curriculum at undergraduate level. This prepares the future generation nurses in working in multicultural environments. Reference Andrews, M.M. & Boyle, J.S. 2008. Transcultural Concepts in Nursing Care. Philadelphia. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Huber, D. 2006. Leadership and Nursing Care Management. St. Louis. Elsevier Health Sciences. Jeffreys, M.R. 2006. Teaching Cultural Competence in Nursing and Healthcare. New York. Springer Publishing Company. Leininger, M. & McFarland, M.R 2002. Transcultural Nursing: Concepts, Theories, Research and Practice. New York. McGraw-Hill: Medical Publishers. Leininger, M. 1991. Ethical and Moral Dimensions of Care. Detroit. Wayne State University Press. Leininger, M. 2006. Culture Care Diversity and Universality: A Worldwide Nursing Theory. Sydney: Jones & Bartlett Learning. Newman, J.G. & Davidhizar, R.E. 2004. Transcultural Nursing: Assessment & Intervention. Missouri. Elsevier Health Sciences. Papadopoulos, I. 2006. Transcultural Health and Social Care: Development of Culturally Competent Practitioners. St Louis. Elsevier Health Sciences. Purnell, L.D. & Paulanka, B.J. 1998. Transcultural Healthcare: A Culturally Competent Approach. Michigan. University of Michigan. Srivastava, R. 2007. The Healthcare Professional Guide to Clinical Cultural Competence. St. Louis. Elsevier Health Sciences. Read More