Heritage Assessment Tool - Coursework Example

? Heritage Assessment Tool Heritage Assessment Tool Introduction Heritage assessment tools are vehicles that enable nurses to deliver transcultural nursing care. It is necessary to have a clear understanding on the complex ways in which race, social-economic status, gender and age of individual patients interact. Patient’s heritage is an essential component in health care. In order to provide good health care, nurses need to understand the patient’s culture, language and traditional beliefs (Spector, 2004). This calls for a heritage assessment tool. The tool helps nurses understand the patient’s background and how close they are to their cultural beliefs. When nurses understand the patient with the use of the heritage assessment tool, they are able to modify the patient's care plan to fit their beliefs and culture in order to achieve the desired results. The application of the heritage assessment tool aids in the understanding of particular behaviors, attitudes, and policies that are seen in a multidisciplinary scheme. This helps caregivers to work across various cultures to provide quality health care. Heritage assessment tool encourages flexibility and the involvement of the patient as an equal partner in the provision of quality health care. It can be used to generate information on the various models of health and illness (Johnstone and Kantisaki, 2006). Summary of the Heritage Assessment Tool Heritage assessment tool shows the relationship that exists between the physical, mental and spiritual health and the individual methods of maintaining, protecting, and restoring health. Some people use traditional foods to maintain their health. Others have maintained their mental health by receiving emotional support from close family members and their relatives (Johnstone and Kantisaki, 2006). People engage in religious rituals which they believe will help them restore their health. A traditional person observes his or her cultural traditions more closely compared to the acculturated person. Health care practitioners are entrusted to care for their patients as whole persons. This involves taking care of the body, mind, and spiritually. The approach to the patients should be culturally and spiritually sensitive. The culture in which we are brought up influences ones attitudes, beliefs, values and behaviors (Johnstone and Kantisaki, 2006). Medical practitioners should respect ones religious beliefs. These can be understood by observing the patient's behavior such as prayer, reading the bible and church engagements. Every person has a culture, language, and family. Cultural space is determined by the degree of comfort one feels in being close to other, in body, intimacy, public and in the perception of self. An individual culture is influenced through the understanding of one’s role in the family, ethnic background, religious background and day to day interactions with friends. Culture shapes how people behave in different environments and how these environments constrains or enhances individual’s health behavior (Spector, 2004). People from different cultures may have different spoken languages, voice quality, pronunciation and non verbal communications. Cultural values, beliefs, and practices are greatly influenced and embedded in the worldview, language, religion, education, kinship, social ties and environmental contexts of culture. When individual experiences nursing care contrary to his cultural beliefs, there is the likelihood that the patient will exhibit signs of cultural conflict, noncompliance, and stress and will be faced with ethical or moral concerns (Johnstone and Kantisaki, 2006). A heritage assessment tool is necessary in this case to help nurses accommodate and modify patterns of care, maintain patients and families existing patterns of care and preserve the culture of the patient. Differences in health traditions between three cultures: African Canadian family, Asian Family and an American family The Chinese family believes in traditional medicine. They also have a culture based on Yin/Yang which is the connection between the mind, body and spirit. The inside of the body is considered yin, and the external is considered as yang. Lack of this balance is the cause of all emotional disorders (Spector, 2004). They have good relations with the extended family and society which helps them maintain their health. The family pays attention to gender and family roles. These roles help in maintaining the health of the individual. The family believes that their problems are insufficient to seek formal help. The Aboriginal family engages in participative communication with other aboriginals and respect for the elders, the land, animals and ancestors are fundamental aspects of their culture. The family engages in traditional customs and practices as a means of protecting their health. The family uses English as their native language though their English is difficult to understand due to slight differences in pronunciation and grammatical structure (Spector, 2004). They also use non-verbal communication such as hands and fingers. The children I the family have a strong connection to their grandparents compared to their parents. A strong relationship also exists between the mother and the children. This helps them protect their health. The families operate based on traditions of the extended family and community care which helps in maintaining their health. The family engages in traditional hunting practices that are meant to maintain personal health. These practices influence the well-being of individuals and families as well as the community (Spector, 2004). My family Having been born and grown in US, my family is protestant. Our Christian life helps us build trust in God to protect our health. We live with neighbors who are from diverse backgrounds and religions. This has enabled us to learn how to live with others and accommodate their differences. We take part in Christian activities such as prayer days, bible study and other Christian festivals which helps in the maintenance of our health. We cook our traditional food and use traditional medicine which helps in restoring our health. Common Health Traditions Family and community support are necessary in maintenance of health. Prevention and health promotion incorporate the efforts of both the individual and the community. Family involvement in health promotion helps in preventing individuals falling into depression. The concept of family and social support is immensely valuable in Chinese and the Aboriginal culture (Johnstone and Kantisaki, 2006). Both families have close ties to their family and the family members provide individuals with an opportunity to share which helps in maintaining mental health. All the families there are a strong connection between the mind, body and spirit. Both depend on the traditional medicine which can impact positively both the mind and body. All of these cultures hold a belief that there is a balance that exists between the body, mind, and spirit for one to be healthy. In the different cultures, access to medical help is hindered by either language barriers or traditional, cultural activities or religious activities. Evaluate and discuss how families subscribe to these traditions and practices Families have structures. Health care professionals should take in regards to treatment and inclusion of the entire family in the process of treatment and recovery. Understanding the roles of each person in the family helps health care providers, to be able to treat an individual and the whole family appropriately. The family contributes to the well being of an individual and the entire community (Spector, 2004). The clan provides a sound buffer mechanism for the patient and the caregiver. Therefore, the family impacts positively on the patient’s recovery without leaving the whole load to one single person. An extended family support contributes to individuals and the entire family’s health. In conclusion, health care practitioners should have a clear understanding of their patients’ cultural background. This will help them to provide quality healthcare with respect to the patients’ culture. Heritage assessment tool provides a clear personal background which is useful in the provision of health care. References Spector R.E., (2004). Culture Diversity in Health and Illness (6th edition). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc. Johnstone, M. J., Kantisaki, O. (2006). Culture, Language and Patient Safety: Making the Link. International Journal for Quality in Health Care; 18:383-388. Read More