culture in nursing
Cultural Assessment
Culture in Nursing Nurses need to be culturally sensitive and culturally competent because a person’s culture is the foundation for what they believe in and how they act. It is especially important when it comes to a person’s health. A patient’s culture can influence the decisions they make in regards to their health and treatment. Berman, Snyder, Kozier, Erb (2008, p.506) define culture as “nonphysical traits, such as values, beliefs, attitudes, and customs, that are shared by a group of people and passed from one generation to the next.” Nursing is a practice that should incorporate all of these traits. It is essential to understand the patient’s culture because it will enable us to provide them with the highest quality care possible. This United States has a myriad of people from all cultures and the diversity that exists in hospitals is the reason we should not be ethnocentric. Ethnocentrism is the “belief that one’s own culture or way of life is better that that of others” (Berman, 2008, p. 315). Every client we take care of will have their own views regarding their health. It is our job to understand their perspective and not let our personal views or opinions get in the way of their wishes and desires regarding their treatment plan.
The Student’s and Client’s Cultures Guadalupe Maria Armenta is a 23-year-old Hispanic female. She is my sister’s best friend and is currently in college to obtain her GED. She was born in Mexico and her family migrated to the United States with her when she was fourteen years old. She has lived in Houston, TX since she arrived to U.S. and has adapted to the way of American living. Maria has learned English, but speaks it with an accent and since her parents have not learned English, she prefers to speak Spanish. Although we are both Hispanic, Maria did not grow up here like I did. Her beliefs and values were already established from the way of living in Mexico when she arrived here. When it comes
Culture in Nursing Nurses need to be culturally sensitive and culturally competent because a person’s culture is the foundation for what they believe in and how they act. It is especially important when it comes to a person’s health. A patient’s culture can influence the decisions they make in regards to their health and treatment. Berman, Snyder, Kozier, Erb (2008, p.506) define culture as “nonphysical traits, such as values, beliefs, attitudes, and customs, that are shared by a group of people and passed from one generation to the next.” Nursing is a practice that should incorporate all of these traits. It is essential to understand the patient’s culture because it will enable us to provide them with the highest quality care possible. This United States has a myriad of people from all cultures and the diversity that exists in hospitals is the reason we should not be ethnocentric. Ethnocentrism is the “belief that one’s own culture or way of life is better that that of others” (Berman, 2008, p. 315). Every client we take care of will have their own views regarding their health. It is our job to understand their perspective and not let our personal views or opinions get in the way of their wishes and desires regarding their treatment plan.
The Student’s and Client’s Cultures Guadalupe Maria Armenta is a 23-year-old Hispanic female. She is my sister’s best friend and is currently in college to obtain her GED. She was born in Mexico and her family migrated to the United States with her when she was fourteen years old. She has lived in Houston, TX since she arrived to U.S. and has adapted to the way of American living. Maria has learned English, but speaks it with an accent and since her parents have not learned English, she prefers to speak Spanish. Although we are both Hispanic, Maria did not grow up here like I did. Her beliefs and values were already established from the way of living in Mexico when she arrived here. When it comes