According to the United States Census Bureau (2013), there were a total of 114.2 million Arab households residing in the U.S. between 2006 and 2010. Out of those households, one in three was Lebanese (Asi & Beaulieu, 2013). Chances are nurses in the United States are going to facilitate people of Middle Eastern descent, particularly those from Lebanon. Lebanese Muslims are predominately of the Sunni or Shia sects (The Iran Primer, 2014). To better understand how to care for a Sunni or Shia Muslim as a nursing professional, this paper will examine the cultural beliefs of such a patient that is undergoing a radical mastectomy for Breast Cancer. The discourse of this paper will focus on three areas: the psychological effect of being subjected …show more content…
Sometimes a translator may be of the highest regard. Though needing a translator is possible, it is unlikely due to the fact that most Lebanese are fluent in two or three languages. “While Arabic is Lebanon’s official language, English and French are widely spoken” (“What languages are spoken in Lebanon?,” 2012). When communicating, it is important to have limited eye contact with the client. Staring or displaying frequent directness can be interpreted as rude (Muslim Culture, 2014). “Muslim Culture,” further informs: “calling them by their first name or their last name without the prefix of Mr., Mrs., or Miss is considered impolite among Muslims” (2014). To show respect for the patient’s privacy, a nurse should always knock before entering the patient’s room (Muslim Culture, 2014). Also keep in mind, shaking the head back and forth to say “No” means “Yes” in the Middle East (Muslim Culture, 2014). Though this fact is noteworthy, it is likely that a person from the Middle East living in or visiting the United States understands the American meaning of this action. Furthermore, people from the Middle East usually dress in a more reserved fashion than Americans; long dress, long sleeves, raised neckline, and head covering. If the hospital gown provided is not to their needs, they should be permitted to wear …show more content…
She’ll have blood tests, urinalysis, and an ECG….The night before surgery, she should follow her healthcare provider's instructions on when to stop eating and drinking, and should shower with an antibacterial soap. Tell the patient that surgery usually lasts 1 to 2 hours, depending on the type of mastectomy. Tell the patient and her support person about postoperative care in the hospital and at home. This information will need to be reinforced postoperatively before discharge. Provide printed instructions for the patient to refer to later. Teaching topics include expected length of stay, routine postoperative monitoring, caring for a drainage tube, reducing the risk of lymphedema, range of motion exercises, pain management, and support groups
When treating a female patient who is Muslim, which of the following would be important to consider for their appointments?
(London et al. 2003). In the Orthodox Jewish community, there are many strict cultural guidelines that the women must adhere to. Within the following paper I will provide examples that demonstrate why cultural competency is important in nursing.
Another thing that could be an issue among Egyptian patients could be their cultural response to pain. From the time I started nursing school I was taught that pain is subjective. People experience and respond to pain in different ways and this can certainly be influenced by their culture. As the nurse we have to learn to cope with our feelings towards this issue and treat the patient, not the symptoms. Egyptians in particular try to avoid pain by seeking interventions as soon as possible. They can be both verbal and nonverbal about their pain, but they tend to be more reserved in front of healthcare professionals as opposed to their families.” These conflicting behaviors are confusing to health-care professionals
In today’s society, it is very important for the healthcare professional to be educated about the culture of their patients. It can be seen that the number of patients who are Muslim are increasing throughout the healthcare system. It is challenging for healthcare workers to care for the needs of Muslim patients when they don’t understand their cultural beliefs. Muslims don’t necessarily have the same health beliefs, outcomes, or priorities that their providers have, therefore making it more difficult to come to a final healthcare decision (Al-Oraibi, 2009.) “This intercultural gap in understanding between clients and providers may result in poor care services and low levels of satisfaction” (Al-Oraibi, 2009.) Muslims are
I consider myself to be a fairly traditional American white woman, with non-denominational Christian beliefs. My ethnicity is sort of a mixture of Irish, German, Native American and a few others, but my main cultural background is traditional American. I do not put a lot of emphasis on my ethnicity, because in my opinion and the opinion of many others as well, Caucasian American can be race and ethnicity. I celebrate traditional American holidays such as Christmas, Independence Day and Thanksgiving. I do eat traditional American foods, but I also love ethnic foods of all kinds. According to McKinney, James, Murray, Nelson and Ashwill (2013), “Belief in Jesus Christ as the son of God and the Messiah comprises the central core of Christianity” and “Study of biblical scripture; practicing faith, good works, and sacramental rites (e.g., baptism, communion, and others); and prayer are common among most Christian faiths” (p.44). I am non-denominational; however, I do believe this statement sums up the main core of my beliefs. I pray, I have been baptized, I believe in good deeds, and attending church. The only difference is that I do not believe that you must attend church or partake in communion to have a relationship with God; I believe that relationship is rather personal. Now in terms of American culture in the healthcare setting, Euromed Info Online indicates that Western industrialized societies such as the United States, which
Historically, Muslim interaction with our healthcare is tangled between religion and their history in our country. Specific believes have always played a role in the ability for women to attend a health care establishment or undergoing daily assessments from a health provider.
The United States is a diverse accumulation of cultural backgrounds which can often set the stage for feelings of confusion, anger, mistrust, and a host of other emotions when dissimilar cultures disagree. Cultural competence in nursing can help eliminate these barriers and provide a platform for nursing to follow in the quest to understand a patient's culture and background. When a nurse takes the time to learn about a given culture prior to providing care, it conveys she respects the patient's right to their beliefs, customs, and culture. It does not necessarily mean the nurse agrees with their practices but
The care needs of patients continue to change, as the United States population becomes more diverse. Nurses will be required to be more knowledgeable and respectful of the differences in cultural and religious beliefs as this diversity continues. The American Nurses Association (ANA) states, “knowledge of cultural diversity is vital at all levels of nursing practice…nurses need to understand: how cultural group groups define health and illness; what cultural groups do to maintain wellness; what cultural groups believe to be the causes of illness; and how healers cure and care
Many people have seen the increase of immigrants coming to the United States. “Census 2000 measured a U.S. population of 281.4 million, including 1.2 million who reported and Arab ancestry” (de la Cruz and Brittingham, 2000). Arab Americans are those people who speak or are descendents of Arabic-speaking populations. As doctors and caregivers continue to provide care to those that speak English, communication between them is easy. But when this simple task is changed when there is a patient from a different culture, it produces challenges that both parties have to overcome. Doctors and caregivers have to increase their cultural awareness and sensitivity so that there is a good
Important aspects to provide for this cultural group include the preservation of the faith, the alleviation of suffering, respecting the patient’s autonomy and being honest and open when providing information regarding their health. Muslims believe that God created them and gave them their bodies as gifts; therefore, this population express their strong gratitude for their health by taking care of their bodies and avoiding harm (Yosef, 2012). Although with strong attempts to care for their bodies, there are some biological variations such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer that place them at risk for illness due to the lack of knowledge that is needed to prevent them from occurring. Unfortunately at time, this population faces barriers to access adequate healthcare including modesty, gender preference and misconceptions about health and illness that arise from their cultural beliefs and practices (Yosef, 2012). Therefore, it is important for healthcare providers to be aware of this to make sure that this cultural groups needs are easily met so that they seek the proper care.
The United States population has been described as a “melting pot” and continues to increase in diversity. A patient’s culture has a significant influence on how their health care should be provided. It is vital for nurses as health care providers to be culturally competent and knowledgeable of the patient’s culture to deliver appropriate, holistic care (Potter & Perry, 2011). This paper will discuss the Arab culture and focus mainly on what to do and not to do as a nurse rendering care to an Arab patient.
Currently, we all live amongst an extreme diverse population. According to National public radio also known as NPR, America's diversity remains on the rise, with all racial and ethnic minorities growing faster than whites. This increase in a diverse population plays a big role in healthcare professionals because there will come a time where we are confronted with people from different walks of life’s beliefs and cultures in the health field. Therefore, it is crucial to learn how to become cultural sensitive to obtain full cultural competence. According to Red Shoe Movement, cultural sensitivity is being aware that cultural differences and similarities between people exist without assigning them a value. By becoming culturally sensitive you are able to acknowledging the difference in cultures mean while having a high level of respect. According to the text book Cultural competence is best defined as “a combination of culturally congruent behaviors, practice attitudes, and policies that allow nurses to work effectively in cross-cultural situations” (Stanhope, M. & Lancaster, J., 2015, p.74.) Cultural competence is the key component to becoming a successful nurse. A nurse who is cultural competent views each person as unique and can assist any patient to the best of her or his ability no matter the circumstances. . A cultural competent health care system can health improve health outcomes and limit health disparities.
My southern heritage has directly influenced the person I am today. I grew up in South Louisiana and I have lived there all 25 years of my life. My childhood was not easy, but I think those tough situations prepared me for life, and taught me the value of family. I attended a private, Christian school and I am so appreciative of my parent’s sacrifices that allowed me to receive that education. I would describe myself as a kind, hardworking individual who respects, cares for, and values others. I believe these attributes are a genuine reflection of my upbringing. My Christian faith is what motivates me each day and it is also what has inspired me to help others through a career in nursing.
S.P. should be up out of bed post-op day 1 and wearing TED hose continuously, as well as wearing SCDs overnight in bed. Constipation prevention should e achieved by administering scheduled doses of Colace. Proper nutrition should be encouraged to include plenty of protein to ensure proper wound healing and avoid development of pressure ulcers (Lewis, Dirksen, Heitkemper, Bucher, & Camera, 2011). S.P. should practice coughing and deep breathing throughout her hospital stay to avoid lung congestion and occurrence of pneumonia infection, educating the patient about smoking cessation assistance can be helpful as well.
Health in all cultures is an important aspect of life. A person’s cultural background, religion and/or beliefs, greatly influences a person’s health and their response to medical care (Spector, 2004). These diverse cultures guide decisions made in daily life; what food eaten, living arrangements made, medications taken and medical advice listened to. A nurse must be knowledgeable and respectful of these diverse cultures and understand their importance when providing care. This understanding helps to build a strong nurse/patient relationship, increasing patient compliance, which ensures positive outcomes are met. Patients who are satisfied