Cultural Assessment Model Paper

Basic Intro of Cultural Assessment Model Involving Children & Family Life in Roma Culture “A fundamental belief of professional nursing holds that all individuals are to be cared for with respect and dignity regardless of culture, beliefs, or disease process” (Catalano, 2015). The idea of “culture” has many different meanings and connotations. One that is commonly accepted is that it is a, “collective way of thinking that distinguishes one relatively large group from another” often based off if the particular “group’s acceptance of a set of attitudes, ideologies, values, beliefs, and behaviors…” (Catalano, 2015). As nurses, how do we determine what the best care is, or would be, for our patient from a culture other than our own? To begin,

If followed and lived, “culturally competent health care will lead to greater patient satisfaction, improved clinical outcomes, and greater cost efficiency” (Galanti, 2008). Within the model itself, there are 6 “cultural phenomena … illustrating the ability to give every individual a unique identity” (Sagar, 2011). These phenomena are: communication, space, social orientation, time, environmental control, and biological variations, and are illustrated in the following figure. (I googled the assessment model for an image and was led to this one on the student website for Westminster College. They got it from: “Source: Giger, J. & Davidhizar, R. (1999). Transcultural nursing: Assessment and intervention (3rd ed). Philadelphia: Elsevier Health Sciences.” I don’t quite know how to reference that. Do I use the Westminster information, or the one they got it from??)

Analysis of Giger and Davidhizar Transcultural Model

What are the common health care practices? Are there diseases rampant from poor hygiene or sewage exposure? Are there immunizations available? Are illnesses treated with folk remedies or with more modern medicine? What control does your patient have within their environment? These are all things you must know to understand and better educate your patient on how to maintain their best health possible within their environment.

Biological Variations Lastly, you, as the nurse, must assess whether there are any biological variations or factors that make your patient’s culture susceptible to particular diseases or conditions. For example, both the American Indian and Black population have an increased risk for diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Is your patient at risk for certain diseases just for the fact he or she is of a particular culture? Knowledge of this sort will make your assessment more thorough and make you more aware of things to watch for.

Family Relations in Roma Culture within Transcultural Model