Growing up I was the only one in my family with an olive skin tone who didn’t burn in the sun. Everyone always told me that I inherited my grandfather’s Cherokee Indian features. He never talked about his culture, so I have never associated myself with being Native American. Each Native American tribe has unique cultural beliefs and traditions that are passed down from generation to generation through storytelling. In my family, those traditions ended when my grandfather passed away. As an increasingly diverse country, it is important for nurses and health care providers to deliver culturally competent care. The purpose of this paper is to discuss Native American’s cultural beliefs related to end of life care and how health care providers can …show more content…
I have always felt like an outsider in my family. I was raised in a Southern Baptist church, but I have never associated myself with that culture or religion. I wish my grandfather was still alive so that I could learn more. I have always viewed death as a natural part of the lifecycle and never associated anyone with personal possessions. I also feel that listening is better than speaking and use long pauses to make sure that the person who was speaking to me is completely finished. However, being a nurse, I view illness in a very scientific way and believe in modern …show more content…
With this new affiliation, I may be taking care of traditional Native American in the near future. Native Americans believe in respecting elders, using active listening, and that autonomy is extremely important. They believe in a universal energy and spiritual balance. Illness occurs if there is a disruption in that balance. The nurse should always discuss cultural needs with every patient and that a medicine man may be requested or seen along with their health care provider. Death is viewed as a natural part of the lifecycle because things only live for a certain amount of time. In order to deliver culturally competent care, nurses must understand and respect cultural differences. As nurses, we cannot let our beliefs and values affect how we treat others. We should strive to deliver culturally competent care to all of our
Throughout ancient history, many indigenous tribes and cultures have shown a common trait of being hunter/gatherer societies, relying solely on what nature had to offer. The geographical location influenced all aspects of tribal life including, spirituality, healing philosophy and healing practices. Despite vast differences in the geographical location, reports show various similarities relating to the spirituality, healing philosophy and healing practices of indigenous tribal cultures.
A study was performed in Canada by sending a 2-page questionnaire to 125 registered physicians. It's purpose was to show their knowledge of Native American healing traditions, and their willingness to cooperate with healers when treating their patients. A total of 79 (63.2%) of the questionnaires were returned (Zubek, 1994, p. 1925). The questions included whether the physicians approved of their patients seeking healers in different clinical settings (i.e. for health maintenance, benign and chronic illnesses, outpatient and inpatient settings, visits to intensive care units, and palliative care), for the prescribing of traditional medicine, who should be responsible for delivering traditiona...
The self-assessment has demonstrated that I am able to deliver culturally congruent nursing care due to my critical reflection, knowledge of cultures and cross-cultural communication abilities. I am able to avoid prejudices, stereotypes and biases that may hinder the delivery of culturally competent care due to my understanding and respect for different cultures. In addition, I am able to form trustful relationships with clients and understand their personal perceptions towards the available treatment alternatives (Cowen & Moorhead,
The difference is that Indigenous people maintain a cyclic nature of death and return to the land whereas a contemporary Western view sees transitions as a need for families to cope and understand the “fading away of a person” (Ferrell & Coyle, 2010). The palliative care nurse needs to appreciate that in Indigenous communities, large numbers of Indigenous people may be expected to visit the patient and talk amongst themselves to carry out “sorry business”. For the nurse it becomes paramount to facilitate this interaction and process through the development of rapport with family and community members to allow cooperation and mutual respect (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Branch, 2011). The importance of creating a therapeutic relationship that facilitates the freedom of the community in the palliative space and interaction between health professionals and Indigenous groups was shown by Pam McGrath in an interview with indigenous people caring for a palliative family member. McGrath reported the family member explaining that many of the issues they had to deal with regarded having to define to family members and health professionals who can actually help with the care of the patient (Mcgrath,
As a nurse, I am obligated to care for all cultures, and try to understand their values, beliefs, spirituality, gender roles, and language. Cultures can range from different families, environments, disabilities, or even genders. It is a very broad topic, and I hope to recognize these cultures in my nursing career. Some barriers may exist that can make it challenging to work with people of a different culture, but it is possible to overcome these with the resources within the health care system. The Health Policy Institute identifies that “[t]he goal of culturally competent health care services is to provide the highest quality of care to every patient, regardless of race, ethnicity, cultural background, English proficiency or literacy” (“Cultural Competence”, 2004). Additionally, cultural competence is an ongoing process that involves both the client, and health care professional to work together that best suits the client’s
Cultural Competence is important for many reasons. First, it can help develop culturally sensitive practices which can in turn help reduce barriers that affect treatment in health care settings. Second, it can help build understanding, which is critical in competence, in order wards knowing whom the person recognizes as a health care professional and whom they views as traditional healer, can aid the development of trust and improve the individual’s investment and participation in treatment. Third, our population in the United States is not only growing quickly but also changing, cultural competence will allow us as educators and healthcare workers keep up wi...
Providing a space for and allowing multiple family members in the room will allow for the maintenance of family dynamics and comfort to the patient while in the hospital setting. Native American patients may request that the nurse consult with the family elders before proceeding with care. Educating the patient and family in a way that is understandable will play major part in the recovery phase. Native Americans tend to comprehend educational materials and approaches that are concrete or experiential rather than abstract and theoretical. (Field,
Providing culturally competent care is a vital responsibility of a nurse’s role in healthcare. “Culturally competent care means conveying acceptance of the patient’s health beliefs while sharing information, encouraging self-efficiency, and strengthening the patients coping resources” (Giddens, 2013). Competence is achieved through and ongoing process of understanding another culture and learning to accept and respect the differences.
Cultural competence is a skill essential to acquire for healthcare providers, especially nurses. Cooperating effectively and understanding individuals with different backgrounds and traditions enhances the quality of health care provided by hospitals and other medical facilities. One of the many cultures that nurses and other health care providers encounter is the American Indian or Native American culture. There are hundreds of different American Indian Tribes, but their beliefs and values only differ slightly. The culture itself embodies nature.
Culture is one of the most respected pieces of a person’s life, as it leads and directs their every day living, but also how they view life as a whole picture. We all have the right to our own perspectives and beliefs. Attributing factors could be family upbringing, education, marrying of a spouse, or even worldly travels and experiences. Jarvis (2012), acknowledges that culture involves a persons beliefs, values, and thoughts while implementing their race, ethnicity, and religion. The ability to learn about ones culture, and accommodate them in times of illness and challenges, is a special characteristic. This is an attribute that many accomplished nurses have because of Madeleine Leininger’s Theory of Culture Care Diversity and Universality.
Transcultural nursing requires us to care for our patients by providing culturally sensitive care to a broad spectrum of patients. The purpose of this post is to describe cultural baggage, ethnocentrism, cultural imposition, prejudice, discrimination, and cultural congruence. I will also give an example of each term to help you understand the terminology related to nursing care. I will define cultural self-assessment and explain why it is valuable for nurses to understand what their own self-assessment means. Finally, I will describe the five steps to delivering culturally congruent nursing care and how I have applied these concepts to my nursing practice.
Leininger’s theory of cultural care diversity and universality is about caring, which is the essence of nursing and is recognized in the theory of basic human needs. Her theory incorporates anthropology, which focuses towards caring, culture values, and pattern rather than medical symptoms and treatments. Concepts of Leininger’s theory revolves around caring, which is essential for growth, development and survival. Leininger’s transcultural nursing is our “‘cultural knowledge that is used in our actions to promote positive health behavior among patients and foster culturally sensitive and congruent care’ (Campesino, 2008)” (Posner p.151). Providing client centered care not only enables trust, but also fulfills the patient’s potential health needs and nursing roles with the best outcome. I believe it is important to understand that America has more demands for cultural diversity; therefore, we must be able to meet these demands with the appropriate interventions. Cultural misunderstandings and applying inappropriate interventions become a cultural stress for the nurse-patient relationship; distrust could lead to nurses being unable to collect the necessary information to effectively provide the right care. To understand and respect different religious cultures are also important in the nursing process. This can help nurses to understand and improve quality of
It is vital that bias, stereotyping, and prejudices become a non factor in the care of clients. Health care providers must have respect, tolerance, and the ability to adapt to a variety of cultural behaviors. According to Blais and Hayes (2011), “Nurses must be aware of their own cultural beliefs, because these may affect the care they give. When assessing a client, a nurse considers the client’s cultural values, beliefs, and practices related to health and health care” (p.403). It is essential that health care professionals provide the best care for patients regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or culture. In order to achieve this goal, it is imperative that continuing education in culture and diversity remain at the forefront of healthcare environments and
As a nurse strive to provide culturally sensitive care, they must recognize how their client's and their perceptions are similiar as well as different. Nurse enhance their ability to provide client-centered care by reflecting on how their beliefs and values impact the nurse-patient relationship. To provide appropriate patient care, the nurse must understand her/his culture and that of the nurse profession. Cultural biases can be particularly difficult to identify when the nurse and client are of a similar cultural backgroup. When we recognize and know a culture, we will know what is right for our patient, and thus may impose our own values on the client by assuming our values are their values. Recognizing differences a present an opportunity not only to know the other, but also to help gain a greater sense of self. In this paper, I will explain more about diversity and cultural competence in case study.