The influence of culture on health care practices Essay

Current society displays the need for suitable health care practises that put into action cultural sensitivity. This dissertation will talk about that to ensure a registered nurse to develop restorative benefits for the patient it is essential for the nurse to show cultural awareness.

It will firstly discuss the meanings of culture, ethnic diversity and cultural sensitivity, followed on by the multiculturalism in Australia plus the differences between western tradition and Muslim culture not only that what a health professional needs to practice in order to attain cultural tenderness. In order to understand culturally sensitive nursing attention it is beneficial to first understand what lifestyle and traditions diversity means. In today’s society, tradition is defined as a shared system of values, values, ideas, rituals and learned patterns of behaviour which is not simply defined by ethnicity (Galanti, 2004).

A person’s culture can be shaped by simply age, gender, religion, education and lifes experiences. Every person is culturally unique each aspect of a person’s life is influenced by way of a culture (Belancourt, Carrilli, Green, 1999 & White, 2004). Cultural diversity is the variety of human societies or ethnicities living and interacting collectively in a certain region (Belancourt et ‘s. 2004). Therefore knowledge of ethnical diversity is an important base in most levels of medical care to in order to achieve cultural awareness.

Culturally hypersensitive nursing attention recognises the need for respect and acknowledgement from the wholeness of most human beings, no matter culture, religious beliefs or race. According to Seibert, Stridh-Igo & Zimmerman (2002, g 143) Knowledge of the people culture and awareness to its standard premises is usually imperative pertaining to quality treatment and recovery. Indeed widely sensitive medical care is a required factor that must be used (Happell, Manias & Pinikahana, 2003). In today’s culture the recognition of cultural variations and their influence on health care practices become more crucial as the population of Australia continues to diversify. As the Australian population becomes varied the need for delivery of widely sensitive medical is becoming more paramount.

Aussie society now consists of people from several hundred countries, speaking hundred and 59 languages (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2001). People from non English language speaking backgrounds make up fifteen percent of the Australian population (Australian Bureau of Stats, 2001). Burkie, Chenowethm and Jean (2006) believe at any one stage there may be as much as twenty different cultural teams in one ward in medical center and some without having spoken The english language.

For a registered nurse to show ethnical sensitivity into a non The english language speaking sufferer appropriate healthcare would be to speak nonverbally and seek the help of an interpreter (Josipovic, 2000). The nurses’ responses for the multicultural sufferers, guide the level and progress of restoration (McFarland & Leininger, 2006). If not appropriate medical care is used the patient would not receive the treatment he/she should get. Evidently since Australian contemporary society becomes more multicultural the advantages of cultural understanding and tenderness to health care practices is imperative.

As in other produced countries all over the world, the primary responsibility of Aussie nurses is always to meet the wellness consumers nursing care demands while respecting and helping their principles (Australian Nursing jobs and Midwifery Council, 2001). Health care methods such as nourishment, pain relief and diet are generally believed and practiced differently by just about every culture (White, 2004). McFarland & Leininger (2006) believe that cultural medical practice has to be acknowledged and respected since it is important to the sufferer.

A health professional will generally care for sufferers from different backgrounds and so their very own belief and value program will differ greatly as a result of their own traditions (Leininger, 1991). According to Andrews and Boyle (1997) problems will arise each time a patient and a nurse from distinct cultural qualification with inconsistant beliefs and values satisfy. This could pose a real challenge if the registered nurse has had little education for the patients’ culture. Certainly in these circumstances it is a nurses’ occupation to put apart an ethnocentric view and display level of sensitivity to the patients’ perception on health care and illness (Josipovic, 2000).

For instance caring for an Arab Muslim patient considering that the western knowing of this multifaceted culture is only just commencing. Muslim faith based and life values happen to be markedly unlike the principles of life and health care techniques in the western world (Luna, 2006). Islam is now another largest religion in the world. Nationwide alone between years of 1996 and 2000 the population of Muslims is growing by 40 percent (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2001).

The religion of Islam (Muslims) rely on only one The almighty (Allah), the creator and sustainer coming from all creatures and the universe, whom prescribes the Muslim’s life-style (Luna, 2006). Following Islam and obeying its theories, is the most important part of a Muslims life and requires adherence to mandatory methods that may not tolerate violations (Minority registered nurse, 2007). Observant Muslims believe the best way to preserve their mental, physical and spiritual health is to abide by the Islamic teachings and the rules of Allah through practice and moderation in all aspects of lifestyle (Minority health professional, 2007).

Muslims consider their particular health a spiritual matter and they believe that very good nutrition is among the essential measures toward retaining good health (Minority nurse, 2007). Whilst keeping good health intended for Muslims is important, health and food are considered functions of worship for which Allah must be thanked. For instance animals and chicken must be killed by trimming the neck artery to cause quick death and minimize animal suffering (Muzzafar, 1997). The name of Kristus must be stated during the slaughtering of the creature to bless it and make this lawful to eat (Luna, 2006). Therefore the method that meals in a westernised hospital can be prepared like a roast meat or a ham sandwich will not be appropriate for a Muslim patient.

To be a broadly sensitive physician requires which the health professional must not only be conscious of patients’ faith based dietary mandates but work very hard to accommodate them (Leininger, 1995). Whilst keeping in mind diet needs of any patient, also communication between nurse and patient is additionally a vast means of displaying cultural sensitivity. Woman mans refusal of discomfort medication after surgery under western culture may make simply no sense. Actually if a health professional showed cultural sensitivity and asked the individual through ideal verbal connection then she/he would realize that the Muslim cultural thoughts about pain are extremely different from cultural ways of the western world.

A Muslims belief is that by displaying disease is that the first is purged of their sins through pain and illness (Luna, 2006). While evidenced in order to develop healing benefits intended for the patient it is essential for the nurse to show cultural level of sensitivity. To be a broadly sensitive a nurse, a nurse will need to be aware that Muslim patients’ health includes more physical and psychological measurements.

One example of traditional practice requires the visiting with the sick whether it be family, good friends or neighbours. Islam educates that going to a sick and tired person can be an work of that acquires nearness to Allah (Muzaffar, 1997). Failing to visit during the time of illness is considered long term destroying (Luna, 2006). Luna (2006 p 329) believes that rather than labeled the Muslim family and site visitors a problem due to large number and constant visiting, an awareness and sensitivity to the cultural and religious responsibility to visit the sick needs to be kept in mind by nurse together with the inherent beneficial benefits for the patient. Whilst displaying ethnic sensitivity to patients features the most importance there are many elements involved.

Purnell (2004) feels that for the nurse for being culturally hypersensitive she/he first needs to appreciate her/his very own culture, plus the patients, keep in mind different points of views on wellness, illness and collaborate with nurses and also other health care pros. Conducting a health analysis on a patient and remembering there culture is of great consequence (Seibert, Stridh-Igo, & Zimmerman 2002). For instance a registered nurse needs to show cultural tenderness and only ask appropriate questions. The culturally sensitive registered nurse will appreciate that matter for many Muslim females is for modesty (Galanti, 2004). The covering of the body and the non attendance of the man health care provider is an important factor being sensitive to.

In ending, the importance of displaying culturally sensitive breastfeeding is a significant element of nursing practice. This kind of essay offers discussed the importance of social sensitivity and how it affects health care practices, in specially the roles it plays with Muslim people. Evidently, treating illness and meeting the needs with the patient happen to be difficult enough for the nurses in todays’ health care practices without adding the side-effect of religious and cultural distinctions. However in case the nurses are appropriately knowledgeable and are willing to learn modern nursing it can develop mutually satisfying restorative benefits for the patient and nurse, together with the ultimate aim of helping in patient recovery. References Andrews, M., & Boyle, J. (1995).

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