Cultural Literature Review - Article Example

Looking back at the historical development of the nursing profession to give the nurses and those planning to become one, insight for a best health care system today and in the future, is the main objective of Karen J. Egenes in her article History of Nursing (n.d), as she stated in her summary (p.23). In her introductory words, she implied that understanding the history of nursing would highlight the importance of this profession in the health care system of the nation. That’s why the article presented an overview of the history of nursing, especially with the nursing in the United States, with the contributions of selected leaders and influence of the societal trends (p.2). It is impossible to speak of the history of nursing without mentioning Florence Nightingale.

Egenes’ article remarked that Nightingale laid the foundation of nursing as a profession. She turned down offers of marriage and pursued studies in health, despite her parents opposition, because “she believed that she had been called to dedicate her life to the service of humanity”(p.4). This is the same spirit that dominates the nurses today. Egenes’ objective in writing her article is considerably achievable. In fact, according to Jeff Durham (2010), in his discussion of the duties and responsibilities of a nurse, in his article The Role of a Nurse, he emphasized the important role of a nurse in the patient’s recovery, as well as protecting the patient.

Actually, many nurses go above and beyond their call of duty. Durham realistically outlined in his article the nurse’s emotional involvement in their patient. Besides being a caregiver, a nurse also portrays the role as patient’s teacher, a counselor, and a trusted friend. This article of Durham evidently shows that nurses are being appreciated and their importance in health care system is being recognized. In a personal interview to Donna E. Shalala, the appointed chair in the year 2009 of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Initiative on the Future of Nursing at the Institute of Medicine (IOM), regarding committee’s report “about transforming the health care system within the newly legislated Affordable Care Act”, she openly acknowledged that “unless people understand that nursing is central to improving the quality of health care, we will never be able to improve that quality in this country” (Nickitas, 2011).

Since nurses role are being appreciated, much is expected in their competence amidst the increased migration of varied cultural background in the United States nowadays. A nurse flexibility face the challenge while adapting to different culture, beliefs and practices of their immigrant patient. So the key method to maintain efficiency on nursing is to familiarize oneself of the cultural background of the immigrant patient. Acquiring knowledge and understanding of their social structure, their medical practices and even their religious beliefs are extremely important in giving appropriate care to a patient with such cultural background.

According to a module for study article, entitled Health and Health Care of Filipino American Elders, “Filipino Americans now rank as the second largest Asian group in the United States with over 1.8 million individuals reported in 2000 census” (McBride, n.d.). Thus, the article equipped us knowledge on their cultural backgroun