Chapter 12 Considering Culture

What Is Culture? Unique characteristics that are shared: symbols, rituals, rules, and other learned behaviors A family is one type of cultural group Culture is not the same as ethnicity Health care has its own culture and subgroups Nursing culture

Population Mosaic of the United States Cultural trends of the United States The population is growing The emerging majority of people of color Growing Latino population increases cultural and language challenges for nurses Requires ability to meet needs for more diverse population Requires more awareness of cultural, social, and religious needs

Population Mosaic of the United States (cont’d) Cultural trends of the United States The population is aging Population continually getting older Need sensitivity to the culture of aging Gerontological nursing as a specialty Poverty Income is directly related to health Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Poverty has its own culture: sense of helplessness and hopelessness

Population Mosaic of the United States (cont’d) Cultural trends of the United States Gender roles and human sexuality Increasing opportunities for women Increased opportunities for the lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender (LGBT) population Role model and promote acceptance of these cultural changes

Personal Cultural Competency A basic expectation of nursing Awareness and acceptance of cultural differences Need to develop awareness of own culture before understanding others' Culture is the accumulation of someone's life and makes people who they are One member of a group not the same as the next

How to Develop Culturally Competent Care Care that meets the cultural beliefs of an individual Eight descriptors to define cultural competence: Integration Understanding Respect Communication Sensitivity Dignity Knowledge Acceptance

How to Develop Culturally Competent Care (cont’d) How to develop personal cultural competency Cultural desire Cultural awareness Cultural knowledge Cultural skill Cultural encounter

Barriers to Cultural Competency Ethnocentricism Cultural imposition Cultural blindness Stereotyping Prejudice Racism Cultural conflict Cultural shock

Common Ethnic Groups in the United States European Americans: 77% of population Native Americans and Alaska Natives: 2% African Americans: 14% Asian Americans: 6% Hispanic Americans: 17.6% People can identify themselves as part of multiple ethnic groups Each cultural group holds its own health beliefs Some common health issues within groups

Cultural Assessment Used to obtain the information needed to provide culturally competent care Basic cultural assessment, overall questions What makes you sick? What do you do when you are sick? What makes you better?

Cultural Assessment (cont’d) Basic cultural assessment, more detailed questions What is your primary language? What special foods are necessary for healing? What is your family situation? What is the role of family in your health beliefs? What are your spiritual beliefs related to illness, wellness, and death?

Hiring and Managing a Diverse Workforce Organizational values and management policies should include diversity Diversity in hiring process Maintaining diversity Diversity and quality care Concept of inclusion Relationship between diversity and inclusion

Nurse Managers and Culture Need to understand significance of culture on two levels: patient care and personnel management Share the unit's cultural philosophy when recruiting Educate employees about culturally competent care Embrace diversity of staff