Essay on Culture Influence on Nursing Care

I agree that my culture does influence my ideas and attitudes, which in turn effect and influence my nursing care. Culture is a factor that plays a significant role in how people interact, how an individual values another and relationship creating, and that’s why the nursing culture can influence a lot of activities I engage in including how I offer nursing care. Culture is made up of ideas, beliefs, traditions, behaviors, and interpersonal mannerisms, and it’s diverse for each individual or even a group (Biles & Biles, 2019). As a healthcare practitioner, one of the areas where culture influences my ideas is the decision-making. Attitudes and beliefs are mostly influenced by a person’s culture and while a healthcare provider’s beliefs and attitudes adds to his/her decisions, they help in determine what is deemed essential, relevant and worth practicing. Some of the decisions include health perceptions, beliefs about how certain illnesses come to be, health promotion approaches and the treatments desired by patients.

In Australia, there are differences as well as traits existing between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people. Nurses hold a different culture, which at times doesn’t rhyme with that of a certain group, community, or even culture. When it comes to attending to patients of different cultures, belies of a patient and that of a nurse can crush. While communication is considered an effective and integral factor, nurses should maintain an environment that is free of bias and where patients can freely converse to obtain quality care (Waterworth et al., 2015). Nurses may fault to appreciate, accept or understand sociocultural differences, which is unacceptable as they promote biasness and provide atomistic care. This kind of practice can be referred as cultural bias and increases inequities in health services, especially to those seeking care while deteriorating quality of care. Garvey 1 et al. (2020) illustrate that nurses among other healthcare providers should use effective communication and this includes being aware of literacy issues during primary care provision. Uncertainty and anxiety about interactions with Aboriginal patients have had influences on my engagement levels in intercultural communication, and have also impacted my form of communication thus an increase in stereotype usage.

Because I have little knowledge regarding Aboriginal people, I may have misconceptions and conservative opinions towards cross-cultural caregiving. This also has an impact on the perception of my readiness and preparedness to take care of diverse cultural patients. Most Aboriginal people have doubts of the care system and that’s why they retain a preference of traditional systems of getting healed (Shahid et al., 2019). My beliefs regarding illness and care system differ from those of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and such beliefs hinder decisions I make regarding care provision to a person from this community.

In most cases, a patient’s beliefs about the causes of an illnesses can differ with those of a nurse practitioner, and this kind of patient may end up not accepting the diagnosis that the healthcare provider wants to administer (Wylie & McConkey, 2018). Sometimes it’s hard to learn about a certain culture because of the attitude that one has towards the culture or how he/she perceives it. Usually, lacking knowledge about this culture or community can lead or affect the quality of care provided to the people of the culture such as improper diagnosis. Based on my beliefs, germs or viruses cause illness and this is something that differs a lot with what Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders people believe. Diagnosing these people therefore becomes an issue because the concept of illness etiology places a strong focus on social and spiritual instability as a source of disease.

I have a social duty as a nurse to advocate for improvements in Aboriginal health given that these people are still victims of abuse, stereotyping and inequities. Working for changes includes ensuring cultural competence care wherein skills, attitudes as well as knowledge supporting caring for individuals of different cultures is needed. This will be one step towards improving and sustaining a cultural competency while managing healthcare sociocultural problems. According to Garvey 1 et al (2020), the nursing occupation is an area that consists of a professional culture because there are lengthy learning periods, it’s a culture where codes and interventions apply and is guided by ethical and stands of professional guidelines. Cultural competence care will ensure there is reduced inequities to those accessing health services, ensure improved quality of health services, improve the relationship between nurses and patients while strengthening their communication bond, and ensure facilitated interaction between the nurse and the patient (Conway et al., 2017). Effective communication when communicating to Aboriginal patients includes being non-judgmental, while communicating relevant and accurate information.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders people have a unique culture, and most of their health beliefs are different from those of others. In this case, people who do not know or understand the culture of these people end up disrespecting, abusing and discriminating them. Knowledge, primarily regarding Aboriginal people is something nurses should be equipped with. For instance, I will be able to understand the community’s values and shared traditions. Durey et al. (2016) illustrate that nurses who lack cultural knowledge provide improper diagnosis. Additionally, I can enhance my cultural competence by developing a skill set. Therefore, being trained or learning about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders people will help in promoting cultural safety. I can employ a set of skill that will help in effective communication; thus developing strong bonds with Aboriginal patients.

Nurses and other healthcare workers should be conscious of their own cultural ideologies in order to pinpoint variances from those of their patients and thus assure improvement in Aboriginal health. In addition, as a nurse, I should be able to gather information in a courteous manner that recognizes diversity and fosters the trust that is required for continuous exchanges. Garvey 1 et al. (2020) explain that through role modeling and upholding the rights, integrity, and welfare of others, a nurse may establish a pleasant and non-judgmental work atmosphere (Kaihlanen et al., 2019). To become a culturally competent nurse, it’s critical to confront mindsets. I can generate alternative treatments for my clients if I understand how culture impacts person thoughts and behavior. Understanding the rules of engagement in Aboriginal community such as ways of conversing and conventions, parental role distribution, and religiosity, may help a nurse to better comprehend your patients’ perspectives. Furthermore, being conscious of my own sentiments and stereotype-forming inclinations toward Aboriginal community, will enable me to give real care.

References

Biles, B., & Biles, J. (2019). Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ Health & Wellbeing eBook. Oxford University Press. https://www.oup.com.au/books/higher-education/health,-nursing-and-social-work/9780190311452-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-peoples-health-and-wellbeing-ebook

Conway, J., Tsourtos, G., & Lawn, S. (2017). The barriers and facilitators that Indigenous health workers experience in their workplace and communities in providing self-management support: A multiple case study. BMC Health Services Research, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-017-2265-5

Durey, A., McEvoy, S., Swift-Otero, V., Taylor, K., Katzenellenbogen, J., & Bessarab, D. (2016). Improving healthcare for Aboriginal Australians through effective engagement between community and health services. BMC Health Services Research, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-016-1497-0

Kaihlanen, A. M., Hietapakka, L., & Heponiemi, T. (2019). Increasing cultural awareness: qualitative study of nurses’ perceptions about cultural competence training. BMC nursing, 18(1), 1-9. https://bmcnurs.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12912-019-0363-x

Murphy, K. (2011). The importance of cultural competence. https://journals.lww.com/nursingmadeincrediblyeasy/fulltext/2011/03000/the_importance_of_cultural_competence.1.aspx

Shahid, S., Finn, L., Bessarab, D., & Thompson, S. C. (2019). Understanding, beliefs and perspectives of Aboriginal people in Western Australia about cancer and its impact on access to cancer services. BMC Health Services Research, 9(1), 1-9. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/1472-6963-9-132

Waterworth, P., Pescud, M., Braham, R., Dimmock, J., & Rosenberg, M. (2015). Factors influencing the health behaviour of Indigenous Australians: Perspectives from support people. PLOS ONE, 10(11), e0142323. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0142323

Wylie, L., & McConkey, S. (2018). Insiders’ insight: Discrimination against Indigenous Peoples through the eyes of health care professionals. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 6(1), 37-45. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-018-0495-9