Question

When receiving report on a patient, the nurse makes the following comment, “This woman is so old-fashioned; she only lets the men in her life decide what is right for her.” What is your response in this situation? What cultural determinations are necessary to practice effective nursing? What assessment strategies would you use to assure culturally competent nursing care?

Answer 1

The goal of a nurse is providing effective nursing care. This is established only when the nurse respects the patient and his basic practices unless it is harmful.

1. Never try to change the basic practices of the patient. This may lead to poor nurse patient relationship.

2. Never make stereotypic conclusions regarding patient cultural background or religious practices.

3. Gain more knowledge about the patients culture. Thus the nurse needs cultural knowledge of different groups of people.

4. The nurse should be aware of her own cultural and professional background. Cultural awareness enables how to understand the limitations.

5. Obtain cultural skill about various cultures. Giger and Davidhizar model gives basic ideas about assessment strategies-

Communication: observe dialect, style, use of touch, tone, gesture, eye contact, crying behaviour etc.

Space: distance and intimacy needed in the specific culture.

Social organisation: family is the most important social organisation in most cultures. Gain information about head of the family, nuclear or extended family, primary decision maker of the family.

Time: identify whether the patient is past oriented or present oriented or future oriented.

environmental control: this is understanding whether the patient's cultural practices permits him to have control on what's happening around him. The patient may also believe in fate or God's will. Understand how far he accepts what's happening to him.

6. Cultural competance of the nurse can be increased bye direct interactions with the patients from different cultural groups ( cultural encounter).

7. The nurse should have a good motivation and Desire to develop her cultural competence.