Cultural Aspects of Health

Dianne McAdams-JonesM.Ed. RN

Health Care Can Be Culturally Sensitive

• Consider the client’s cultural and linguistic needs

• Being culturally sensitive avoids discriminatory treatment among diverse populations

Some Beautiful Place In The British Isles

• Calming Waters

People to People

President Dwight D. Eisenhower believed that ordinary citizens of different nations, if able to communicate directly, would solve their differences and find a way to live in peace. In 1956, he put those beliefs into action and created People to People Ambassador Programs

PTP

• British Isles

President Dwight David Eisenhower

People to People

• “I have long believed, as have many before me, that peaceful relations between nations require mutual respect between individuals.” – President Dwight D. Eisenhower

Leininger (1950)

• Transcultural nursing is a theory of Culture Care Diversity and Universality developed by Leininger (1950)

• The process by which the nurse becomes respectful, appreciative, and sensitive to the values, beliefs, lifeways, practices and problem-solving strategies of a client’s culture (Campinha-Bacote, 2001)

Other Cultures

• People To People

Ethnocentrism

This is a term assigned to the judgment of others using one’s own cultural beliefs as the standard, which can result in stereotyping and bias (Leininger 1950)

Understanding Others

• Learn other cultures

Home Stay Family

• Home Stay Mom

How Does The Nurse Manage The Cultural Needs of Clients?

• Ask questions• Observe the client• Interview the Client• Participate in client’s cultural activities• Develop a care plan that is culturally

competent

• Home stay family

Special Considerations

• Selected cultural groups must be assessed based on cultural identity of traits, such as:

• Disability• Poverty• Sexual orientation

What Are My Feelings

• Regarding Gay vs Straight? Can I provide the same level of expert care on their behalf

• Will my personal convictions interfere with good care?

“Challenges” come in all shapes and animals

• Adults are handicapped

Children are challenged

• Is it easier to be kind to children?

Animals are challenged

• Is it easier to be kind to handicapped animals?

Be A Culturally Sensitive Nurse• People to People• Understanding others through learning about

their culture• Understanding others through learning about

their lifestyles• We must be ready to set aside our differences,

and values when faced with a conflict in belief systems

Random People of Culture

No sense in pulling your hair out

• Be patient with other’s and their differences

• Share your culture as often as the opportunity arises

More Random Peopleof Culture