In: Nursing
Describe cultural contexts that must be accounted for when caring for patients. 4. Discuss special legal/ethical considerations relative to psychiatric nursing.
Culture has been defined in a number of ways, but most simply,
as the learned and shared behavior of a community of interacting
human beings.
Cultural competency refers to an ability to interact effectively
with people of different cultures.
The Significance of Cultural Competency
• Health care workers need to be aware of, and sensitive to,
cultural diversity, life situations, and other various factors that
shape a person’s identity.
• The first step is an open, non-judgmental attitude towards the
Client .
Nurses' practice must incorporate cultural needs and beliefs into their nursing practice to provide care that is individualized for the client and appropriate to the client's needs. During the assessment phase of the nursing process, the nurse assesses the client's and family member's cultural background, preferences and needs, after which the nurse modifies the plan of care accordingly.
This cultural assessment and culturally oriented care enables the nurse to:
*Identify ways with which the client's culture and its features
impact on their perceptions, beliefs, values, experiences with
health, wellness, illness, suffering, and even death
*Remain accepting, respectful and welcoming of human
diversity
*Facilitate more holistic assessments and plans of care as based on
the client's culture
*Deep and strengthen their commitment to nursing and their insight
into the nursing profession as based on culturally based
nurse-patient relationships which emphasize the importance of the
whole person rather than viewing the patient as simply a set of
symptoms or an illness
*Integrate their full and in depth cultural knowledge into the
treatment of patients
*Develop and integrate open mindedness into nursing care which can
lead to some innovative, non-traditional, alternative nursing
interventions such as spiritually based therapies like meditation
and anointing.
In today's health care field, nurses and other health care providers have the professional responsibility to be sensitive to their clients' cultural backgrounds. This sensitivity is particular important and vital to the quality of care because culture is so integral and intrinsic to who the client is as a unique individual. Culture can greatly affect client health, as well as their reactions to treatments and care. Madeleine Leininger's Transcultural Nursing Theory facilitates the nurses' understanding of why and how the patient's cultural background is important to health.
Recognizing Cultural Issues That May Impact on the
Client's Understanding of and Acceptance of a Psychiatric
Diagnosis:
Cultural issues that may impact on the client's understanding and
acceptance of a psychiatric mental health disorder and diagnosis
are numerous and varied. For example, these cultural beliefs,
values and practices can impact on the client's understanding and
acceptance of a psychiatric mental health disorder and diagnosis
among various cultures.
*The meaning of the mental disorder or illness to the client and
their family members.
*The way with which the client relates their symptoms to the health
care provider.
*Culture also impacts on the ways which some cultures cope with
stress.
It must also be noted that psychiatric mental health professionals, including nurses, are affected and impacted by their own cultural beliefs, values and practices. It is, therefore, necessary that all health care providers eliminate their cultural biases towards clients with mental disorders and all other disorders and diseases; therefore, the nurse must recognize their own cultural biases and then overcome them with a full understanding, acceptance and respect for all clients regardless of their own integral cultural practices, values, beliefs and perceptions.
Incorporating the Client's Cultural Practices and Beliefs When
Planning and Providing Care
culture also impacts on other areas of the client-nurse
relationships. Some of these cultural influences include:-
*General Perceptions Relating to Illness and Health.
*Distance and Space Orientation.
*The size of the family unit, family member roles, internal family
dynamics, power and decision maker powers, interpersonal
interactions within the family, among members of the family, and
with others outside of the family unit, and communication patterns
within the family unit often vary according to one's culture.
*Communication Patterns: As fully discussed in the beginning of
this review under the integrated process of "Communication and
Documentation", verbal and nonverbal communication patterns and
elements, such as terminology, silence, eye contact, choice of
vocabulary, facial expressions, and touch, are impacted by
different cultures.
Culture is integral to the person as a unique individual. It
impacts greatly on the client's health, and their reactions to
treatments and care. Cultural beliefs, perspectives, values and
practices are determined and assessed by the nurse, after which
they are then integrated into the planning, implementation and
evaluation of client care. All aspects of the direct and indirect
care of the client is modified and changed according to the
client's culture and cultural background. Additionally, all these
cultural modifications must be documented as all other aspects of
nursing care.