Friday, November 5, 2010

A look at Asian Culture and the Implications on healthcare



Implications for Health Care (Molina Healthcare, n.d., p. 5).
* Because young children are rarely separated from their parents or grandparents,
children will respond best with them in the room, particularly during frightening or
invasive procedures.
* Parents may not be aware of teenagers' dating histories.
* Domestic violence is often well-hidden within the family structure.

Diet and Nutrition
* Women may have particular concerns regarding eating certain foods during pregnancy.
Be aware that they may wish to avoid certain foods, such as citrus because it is "hot."
Be prepared with several alternatives.
* Lentils, a staple of the Indian diet, often causes gas. They are not recommended for
breastfeeding women.
food which primarily consists of heated butter, is made into a wide variety of foods. It
is believed to aid in healing the uterus, and is taken in large quantities for ten days after
giving birth. This is one cause of post-delivery weight gain, common in Indian women.
Patients should be cautioned to take ghee in moderation.
* Indian culture encourages increased fat intake, particularly after giving birth. Ghee, a
* Methi
back, for fibrous tissue, and to help the uterus involute.
is another Indian food with medicinal value. It is believed to be beneficial for the
* Honey
cautioning parents not to give it to children under two years old. There may be conflict
in the household between older and younger women about giving of honey to children.
Older Indians are not aware of botulism, the physician should be sure to explain it to
grandmothers as well.
* Indian women may need to evaluated for conditions such as protein malnutrition,
beriberi or thiamine deficiency, pellagra or niacin deficiency, iron-deficient anemia,
and lathyrism (see following) that may be related to a vegetarian diet.
* Lathyrism is a disease specific to the region of Madhya Pradesh. It is caused by eating
certain plants of the genus is an important part of the Indian diet. Physicians should be vigilant inLathyrus and is characterized by irreversible muscular
weakness and paraplegia. Prevalence of lathyrus is decreasing.”


Molina Healthcare. (n.d.). Asian indian culture: influences and implications for health care. Retrieved from http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=990949966720480966
Family Dynamics and Structure

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Asian Culture

I hope that everyone has found the additional resources beneficial thus far. Thank you to those of you who have shared additional resources with the class. I have taken the time to review the additional links which were posted, and I have to say you have all found some very valuable resources! I encourage you to compile a list of valuable resources as you go about the nursing program, if you haven't started yet now is the time!!

Today we are going to be learning a little more about the Asian culture. As part of today's lesson we will be reviewing the Transcultural Nursing (2008) sources regarding the Asian community, and completing a case study. I would like each of you to review the following link. First, read through the information regarding the Asian culture, and then if you name starts with A-L please answer case study number 1 and if your last name begins with M-Z please answer case study number 2. Please remember this should be completed before you come to class tomorrow. We will utilize your beginning knowledge from this review of the Asian community, and the case studies as a background for our learning on the Asian culture.


Transcultural Nursing. (2008). Asian community. Retrieved from http://www.culturediversity.org/asia.htm

Additional References

Below, I have listed some additional resources. Please also take the time to review the useful resources posted and referenced. If ever you have any additional resources that you would like to share please feel free to post them here in reference to this posting, or as part of the current discussion. At the completion of the term I will compile all resources and share them with the entire class.

Banks, J. (2006). Cultural diversity and education: foundations, curriculum, and teaching. Boston, MA:

           Pearson Education, Inc.
Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development. (2004). Welcome to the cultural competence health practitioner assessment. Retrieved from https://www4.georgetown.edu/uis/keybridge/keyform/form.cfm?formID=277

Lowe, J., & Archibald, C. (2009). Cultural diversity: the intention of nursing. Nursing Forum 44(1), 11-18. Retrieved from http://www.emfp.org/DocVault/Publications/John-Lowe-Cultural-Diversity-The-Intention-of-Nursing.aspx

National Center for Cultural Competency. (n.d.). Conceptual frameworks/models, guiding values and principles. Retrieved from http://nccc.georgetown.edu/foundations/frameworks.html#ccdefinition

Queensboro Community College. (n.d.). Definition for diversity. Retrieved from http://www.qcc.cuny.edu/diversity/definition.asp


Transcultural Nursing. (2008). The hispanic american community. Retrieved from http://www.culturediversity.org/hisp.htm

University of Iowa. (n.d.). Cultural diversity issues in healthcare. Retrieved from http://www.uiowa.edu/hr/administration/linguistics/healthcare_diversity.pdf

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Cultural Competence



What a great job you have all done, you make me a very proud instructor! You have all been having very meaningful and well written discussions with one another, what a great way to learn more about cultural diversity and its role in nursing!

Today we are going to discuss the importance of the Cultural Competency and the Culture Competency Continuum. According to the National Center for Cultural Competency (n.d.) " Cultural competence is a developmental process that evolves over an extended period. Both individuals and organizations are at various levels of awareness, knowledge and skills along the cultural competence continuum" (p.1). Before we meet tomorrow I ask that everyone log on to the National Center for Cultural Competency via this link: https://www4.georgetown.edu/uis/keybridge/keyform/form.cfm?formID=277
Once you are to the self-assessment, please answer all questions to the best of your ability. Once you have completed the self-assessment please post 3-5 sentences about what you have learned from your results. I look forward to reviewing your discussion, and continuing to facilitate your learning process.

Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development. (2004). Welcome to the cultural competence health practitioner assessment. Retrieved from https://www4.georgetown.edu/uis/keybridge/keyform/form.cfm?formID=277


National Center for Cultural Competency. (n.d.). Conceptual frameworks/models, guiding values and principles. Retrieved from http://nccc.georgetown.edu/foundations/frameworks.html#ccdefinition

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Cultural Diversity Issues in Healthcare

Wow! You all continue to amaze me with your strength in writing skills, and your abilities to "think outside of the box"! I am very impressed with what I have been reading, and would love to see each of you practice at the bedside as it seems you have a good handle on the importance of culture, diversity, and cultural diversity! Today we are going to discuss some of the cultural diversity issues in healthcare. According to the University of Iowa (n.d.) there are 7 lessons to learn about with regards to cross-cultural communication they include:
  1. Don't assume sameness
  2. What you think of as normal behavior may only be cultural
  3. Familiar behavior may have different meanings
  4. Don't assume that what you meant is what was understood
  5. Don't assume that what you understood is what was meant
  6. You don't have to like or accept "different" behavior, but you should try to understand where it comes from.
  7. Most people do behave rationally; you just have to discover the rationale
I would like for us all to take a brief moment and reflect on our own beliefs, and experiences to review your current stance on your culture awareness, and perhaps how your personal beliefs and experiences may be beneficial or detrimental to your practice. So, to review lets ask ourselves the following questions:
  1. When a clienttalks with a strong accent from their native origin do you react adversely? Please explain how you do not, or how you do.
  2. Are you respectful of various cultural believes and follow through with the patient requests without passing judgement or do you have a difficult time doing so? If you have a difficult time please share with us why, and perhaps share a personal example.
  3. Do you assume you know what a client wants or needs?
  4. When you are caring for a client who clearly does not understand English (the primary language of our nation) do you identify the need for additional resources and make the necessary referrals? If yes, please review how you have made the referral and to whom you make the referral. If no, what can you do as a practicing nurse to make these necessary referrals made known to the appropriate individual or hospital department?
I know I have given you a lot to think about today, so just take a few moments to read the posting, reflect, and then begin to answer your questions. I look forward to your responses.


University of Iowa. (n.d.). Cultural diversity issues in healthcare. Retrieved from http://www.uiowa.edu/hr/administration/linguistics/healthcare_diversity.pdf

Monday, November 1, 2010

Diversity


Great job yesterday with your discussion from the review of the current literature. We are going to switch gears today and discuss the meaning and role of diversity when applied to culture. According to Queensboro Community College (n.d.) "The concept of diversity encompasses acceptance and respect. It means understanding that each individual is unique, and recognizing our individual differences.  These can be along the dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs, political beliefs, or other ideologies" (p.1). When we look at the meaning of diversity, we realize that diversity can be applied to a variety of settings, it is not a term specific to culture.

When you look at the definition for diversity, what areas do you feel you could apply this term to? For example, not only in healthcare but where else, or not only related to culture but also in other areas of healthcare. Once you have decided how you feel you could apply diversity to another area, please share one paragraph as a response to this discussion regarding the application method you have selected, and how you feel diversity relates to that scenario. I can see the wheels turning already! I am excited to read your responses!

Queensboro Community College. (n.d.). Definition for diversity. Retrieved from http://www.qcc.cuny.edu/diversity/definition.asp