Reflectionson culture diversity - Essay Example

Jennifer Olaires-Salazar Nrsg 415 Unit Assignment May 19, 2008 Reflections: Values and Beliefs Systems( This subscale concerns practitioner’s knowledge of the values and beliefs systems of diverse cultural groups and their impact on health care access and utilization).After reading the questionnaires on this subscale , I realized that with my hospital based experience as a health professional, I know fairly well the values and beliefs of different cultural groups in our setting . Most of our patients are elderly Caucasians with a sprinkling of Asians, and patients from the Latino culture.

Coming from different backgrounds, I experienced different kinds and levels of interactive adjustments when dealing with each patient. This exposure to direct, first hand experience is the only way I have learned about cultural diversity, as there is limited education and training from school or healthcare institutions available.2). Reflections: Cultural Aspects of Epidemiology( This subscale concerns practitioners’ knowledge of cultural, environmental and related etiologic factors that contribute to disease.

It probes health disparity and risk and protective factors for underserved groups and communities. Part of the admission assessment in the questionnaire given to our patients that include etiologic factors that contributed to their disease as well as different indicators on well being. I learned that there is such a big difference between cultures. For example, majority of health concerns such as back pain, Cancer, Alzheimers’ disease, are from the Caucasian group which implies that their environment and lifestyles have something to do with it.

Being aware of the factors that contribute to their disease is as important as knowing their cultural background. However, sensitivity and privacy should be considered when it comes to interviewing a patient during the admission process. Health care providers must be knowledgeable in asking the right questions without being offensive or else they might overlook related factors or symptoms of the prevailing condition making diagnosis and treatment more difficult.3) Reflections: Clinical Decision-Making.

( This subscale concerns practitioner’s knowledge of culturally-defined health beliefs and practices, and the ability to integrate this knowledge in approaches to health care delivery.It addresses intake, assessment,/diagnosis,treatment/discharge planning and use of community-based resources.Many factors affect clinical decision-making. Some cultures make decisions for treatment of the patient as a group consensus. Family members are called together to discuss the best option for their loved one, like for instance adult children deciding amongst themselves what treatment direction should be taken for their elderly parent.

Sometimes, treatments rendered to patients are culturally influenced, as some patients may refuse options which go against their cultural or religious beliefs. As a health care provider, my own beliefs, based on medical knowledge may conflict with the patients’ thinking that their cultural beliefs may hinder in the success of their treatment. It is therefore essential that health care professionals should be knowledgeable on how to compromise with the patients their medical opinions and the patients’ cultural beliefs while showing respect for each other’s perspective.

It must be remembered that the patients’ well being is prioritized.4) Reflections : Life Cycle Events( This subscale concerns practitioners knowledge of the cultural implications of various life cycle events, and the ability to address them in approaches to health care delivery.Life Cycle Events such as death elicit different reactions and behavior patterns in various cultures. I observed that Caucasians are more reserved, quiet and “matter-of-fact” when a family member dies. Other cultural groups such as Asians and Latinos show more involvement, being on call 24 hours a day, with family members visiting constantly from the patients’ siblings to their grandchildren.

Being exposed to these situations, I have learned to adjust to the needs of the family members based on their cultural backgrounds. Hospice care, or care and comfort provided by health care professionals to dying patients are mostly used by Caucasians while home and family care is mostly used by Asians to care for their loved one themselves. 5). Reflections: Cross Cultural Communication (This subscale involves practitioners knowledge and skills in communicating with culturally and linguistically diverse groups as it relates to health care access and utilization.)Our unit in the hospital is probably the most culturally diverse and this is useful when we get patients from diverse cultural backgrounds.

If English is not the language of the patient, we rely on one of our staff who speak the same language as the patient to communicate with him. However, when no one is available to translate, we rely on non-verbal gestures, which may prove to be ineffective and dangerous if we interpret the patient incorrectly. Unfortunately, consent forms available in the hospital are only in English and Spanish and discharge forms are only in English, leaving us to interpret to the patients what the forms mean.

Decision Making plays a huge part in a patient’s well being when they are being treated by health care practitioners. Sadly, our practice to meet this is very poor due to limited information not accounted for because of poor cross-cultural communication.6).Reflections: Empowerment/Health Management (This subscale involves practioners’ role in providing information that enables individuals to intervene on their own behalf, advocate and build community capacity for improved health.) I believe that with the lack of education of patients regarding healthcare, they feel they are not getting the best services.

Doctors, for example, are always in a hurry when they make rounds to see patients, not having enough opportunities to provide them with enough information about their healthcare concerns. This leads us ( nurses) to act as an advocate for the patients. I felt obligated to speak in the patients’ behalf to acquire the necessary information from their doctors. Some patients are not assertive enough to ask questions or are afraid to go against doctors’ orders while people from other cultures may be very open and frank about their health-related questions.

Still, as nurses, we need to empower patients with the correct information regarding their health.