Summary Of The Findings Of A Cultural Assessment Paper
Introduction of the Person
- S. is a 41-year-old black woman currently residing in Ramsey, Minnesota. Her nationality is Liberian, although she has been living in the United States for the last 23 years. She has lived in different places in the U.S. and interacted with diverse people, opening her up to different cultures and beliefs. This assessment will focus more on her original Liberian descent and culture. Summary Of The Findings Of A Cultural Assessment Paper
Cultural Assessment
Cultural competence is an essential component of effective healthcare delivery. According to Giger and Haddad (2020), cultural competence in the healthcare context refers to the ability of healthcare providers to understand, respect, and effectively interact with patients from diverse backgrounds. Stubbe (2020) notes that one of the cultural competence skills is the ability to conduct a comprehensive cultural assessment of a patient for healthcare service provision purposes. This paper presents a summary of the findings of a cultural assessment. A 41-year-old lady was interviewed using the comprehensive cultural assessment tool. The cultural assessment aimed at gaining a deeper understanding of the interviewee’s culture, cultural beliefs, and practices. Purnell’s cultural assessment tool was utilized.
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Overview, Inhabited Localities, and Topography
Despite R.S. having lived in the U.S. for 23 years, her culture is deeply West African since a proper bit of her childhood was spent in West Africa. R.S. was born in Monrovia, Liberia. Her parents were also born in Liberia. The parents later moved to the U.S. following a civil war in their country. They did not want to bring up the children in a hostile environment; hence, they went to search for better and more peaceful circumstances. Summary Of The Findings Of A Cultural Assessment Paper
Since moving to the U.S. with her parents, R.S. has lived in different localities in the nation. They spent a significant amount of time in Baltimore and Maryland. Here, they inhabited an urban landscape; hence, she grew up in a fast-moving environment and interacted with diverse individuals in the community. In Liberia, they lived in a rural area, a place of lush rainforest, where her parents were local farmers. She had not lived in an urban area prior to moving to the U.S. Therefore, she experienced different cultural changes that made her change different aspects of life, including her worldview.
Due to work and marriage, R.S. resides in Ramsey, a suburban city in Anoka County. She did not experience significant cultural changes while moving here since she had begun adapting to urban environments and living in culturally diverse areas. R.S. and her husband have a middle level of income, and they both work hard to ensure their family is stable and running. Their income allows them to afford the essentials of life and get health insurance, which covers them and their two children. They both have a formal level of education.
R.S. is a nurse Practitioner (N.P) who has only worked in the nursing profession since she left college. She recognizes that there are various health hazards associated with her job. Among the particular hazards she mentioned are the infectious diseases that a nurse may attract, such as hepatitis B virus and tuberculosis, and exposure to toxic drugs and chemicals which may be associated with mutagenic, teratogenic, and carcinogenic effects, and adverse effects, such as irritation of the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes or acute allergic reactions. Other health hazards in nursing may include stress, back injuries, radiation, and stress. R.S. notes that she has not been in the military.
Communications
To maintain HIPAA compliance, R.S.’s full name will not be disclosed. She stated that her full name is also the legal name, and she prefers to be referred to using the first name, which is common for people from different cultures. Her primary language is Kpelle. However, she speaks excellently fluent English, which is also the language that she uses most of the time with her family and friends. R.S. notes that she does not find it difficult to share her thoughts, feelings, and ideas, especially with family, friends, and healthcare providers. Summary Of The Findings Of A Cultural Assessment Paper
Furthermore, R.S. does not mind physical touch from friends, family, and even healthcare providers. In addition, she has no preference on how she would wish to be greeted. However, she adds that it seems odd to greet a person older than you with a nod of the head; rather, it should be a handshake. When greeting age mates and people younger than you, it is not odd to greet them in other ways rather than that handshake. Expectations related to time and punctuality differ among people from different cultures. From her culture, R.S. believes time is divided into three dimensions: past, present, and future. She also believes that these dimensions are strictly interconnected, and managing time is crucial. Therefore, she is usually on time for appointments and social engagements. She also expects others to keep time, especially for appointments, more than during social engagements. However, failure to keep time is not acceptable.
R.S. has a low-context speech pattern but maintains eye contact throughout the interview. She also notes that she stands in close proximity when talking with family members and healthcare providers. The fact that R.S. is a nurse by profession, I believe, has contributed significantly to her communication with healthcare providers since she maintains eye contact when talking with them and does not demonstrate any fear.
Family Roles and Organization
R.S. has been married to her husband for the last eleven years. Together, they have two children, who are expected to obey their elders at all times. They are also expected to take school and home duties as equally important. “My husband is the head of the family and, therefore, is expected to make the major decisions in the family,” R.S. noted. The male is usually the head of the family and is responsible for not only guiding and maintaining the family in order, providing financial resources, and making other decisions but also receiving respect from the wife and children. However, R.S. also believes that both the husband and wife should manage a family, and the husband should consider her input in decision-making. However, her husband makes most of the decisions solely, especially when dealing with major decisions following his patriarchal family system beliefs. The priorities for the R.S. family are financial stability, health, and education.
Females, on the other hand, may make decisions regarding basic home issues. Her duties are mainly to maintain the household and nature/care for the children. For the children to express themselves and the family well, R.S. notes that they should always respect adults and their peers and treat everyone with kindness. Rude and unruly children make a bad impression on themselves and their families. In her society, children and adolescents are forbidden to use illicit drugs, engage in criminal activities, and fail to follow house rules. Adolescents are expected to be responsible and respectful.
The older people in a family setting, let’s say grandparents in an extended family, are often respected and sought for advice related to family issues. In R.S.’s family, the elders are consulted to resolve family disputes. R.S. notes that she does not live with the extended family in her household, and no one else lives with them apart from her children and husband. She believes it is essential to maintain a close-knit nuclear family since having extended family members in the household may bring about issues such as disrespect. R.S. also believes it is acceptable for people to have children out of wedlock and live together even if they are not married. She does not have an issue with people admitting that they are gay or lesbian, even though she is heterosexual.
Workforce Issues
Since R.S. is a nurse, she notes the essence of reporting to work and related meetings on time. At her workplace, reporting to work late is an issue that is usually taken seriously, and habitual lateness may even lead to disciplinary hearings or even consequences such as loss of the job. R.S. reports to work and meetings on time, considers herself a loyal employee, and considers herself assertive in her job. She expects to remain in her current position for quite some time unless something in life forces her to consider other positions. When she does not know what to do in relation to her job, R.S. seeks resources and consults with other coworkers. R.S. does not have any concerns about working with someone of the opposite gender.
Furthermore, R.S. has acquired high English proficiency, and therefore, the language does not give her any difficulty in the workforce. She also does not have difficulties working with people older or younger than her or taking directions from coworkers who are older or younger than her. She also works well with people whose religions and sexual orientations differ from hers. In addition, she finds no difficulty working with someone from a different race or ethnicity from hers. Despite the need to collaborate with other coworkers, R.S. considers herself to be an independent decision-maker in the workplace.
Biocultural Ecology
R.S. has no known medication allergies. She has not had a problem after taking over-the-counter or even prescription medications. No major healthcare conditions are running in her family, apart from hypertension. R.S. is very aware of how genetics is associated with certain health conditions and the conditions in her family. She notes that Malaria is one of the major health problems in her country of origin. R.S. identifies with the black race and has dark skin, fuller figures, and curves. No physical handicaps or disabilities were observed during the interview. R.S. has an excellent walking gait, communicates clearly, and is attentive throughout the assessment.
High-Risk Health Behaviors
R.S. has a somewhat preserved lifestyle, which helps her prevent most of the high-risk health behaviors. She denies smoking cigars and cigarettes, chewing tobacco, or using other tobacco products. She has not also used these products or smoked in the past. She also denies drinking beer, wine, or even spirits and does not consume energy drinks. In addition, she is not currently using any recreational drugs and has never used them in the past. Other than being physically active throughout the day due to the nature of her work, R.S. also does daily stretches and regular morning or evening runs. She states that her family uses seat belts all the time. The precaution she is taking to prevent getting sexually transmitted infections or HIV/AIDS is remaining faithful to one partner. Summary Of The Findings Of A Cultural Assessment Paper
Nutrition
R.S. gets excited when asked about her nutrition. She believes nutrition plays a crucial role in maintaining health and preventing various health conditions. However, R.S. is not on a special diet, is currently satisfied with her weight, and often tries to consume organic foods. Among the foods she eats to maintain her health include fish, meat, vegetables, grains, fruits, and nuts. She also tries to avoid processed foods, especially the ones known to contribute to weight gain. When ill, R.S. takes naturally made soup and tries to avoid oily/fatty foods since they make her nauseous. She gives an example of taking natural soup when having a gastric illness.
Additionally, R.S. tries to balance her diet by having rice or grains, beans or fish, and vegetables, which are also part of her cultural heritage. One of the high-status foods in her family and culture is Jollof rice (party rice). She notes that there are no foods particularly eaten by only a specific group of people. However, most people from her culture take rice and greens often. R.S. usually has three meals a day: breakfast at 9:00, lunch at 1 pm, and dinner at 7 pm. She also often snacks on non-salted nuts in between meals.
Having lived in the U.S. for 23 years, the new culture has influenced most of the things R.S. does. According to R.S., all public holidays are regarded highly, and she may have different diet changes during these holidays, especially when she has other friends or extended family members over at her place. For instance, she usually has a turkey on Thanksgiving day. The entire family takes the same type of food while together. R.S. gets most of her food stuff at wholesale grocery stores, and they take turns with the husband to buy the food. She may eat at a casual restaurant once or twice a month and often takes the buffet option.
R.S. takes foods left from previous meals, which she keeps in the refrigerator. She cooks her food on a stove and likes her meat and vegetables well done. Among the spices she uses in preparing her food include garlic, chilies, turmeric, and bell peppers. She likes taking water with meals, does not have special teas, and does not change her diet with season changes. Additionally, she has no known food allergies, and no certain foods cause problems when she eats them. Her food habits do not change on off days.
Pregnancy and Childbearing Practices
R.S. has two children. She had a hysterectomy done; therefore, she does not have to worry about birth control. She believes a woman should be protected by the family when she is pregnant. There are various foods she used to take while she was pregnant, mostly cultural foods. She had no food aversions and did not avoid certain activities while pregnant. However, she did all activities in moderation. She did not take any non-food substances while pregnant and preferred to be accompanied by her husband while delivering the baby. R.S. notes that she delivered both children in a supine position. She prefers taking organic foods after delivery and often avoids processed foods. She noted avoiding jumping and stretching for some time after delivery and not keeping the placenta. She used to rest and sleep a lot after delivery and had her husband and in-laws help with the baby. She believes soaking in the bathtub after delivery is not good, and the baby’s umbilical cord should be exposed to air and prevented from getting wet. Summary Of The Findings Of A Cultural Assessment Paper
Death Rituals and Spirituality
Death rituals and beliefs on death vary from one culture to another. For R.S., the family must come together when someone dies and get the process of burial done within 2-3 weeks. Men often show minimal emotions while grieving, as opposed to women. Children are not included in death rituals. She states that she does not want to know about her impending death, even though death to her means the end of this life and the transition to the next. She believes in an afterlife. Her preferred burial practice is interment.
Although R.S. identifies with the Christian religion, she does not consider herself deeply religious. She prays once or twice daily and does not necessarily need to say something specific in her prayers. However, she meditates often and believes challenges and hurdles in life give strength and meaning to her life. She believes spirituality has a great connection with physical health and practices prayers and meditation to engage her emotional and physical health.
Healthcare Practices
Being a nurse, R.S. is highly informed on the healthcare practices needed to maintain health. She goes for routine health checks to prevent and maintain her health. She also does not take any over-the-counter medications or herbal teams and folk medicines. When she is in pain, she rests, relaxes, then takes medications. She expresses her pain by going silent. In her culture, people with mental illnesses are seen as crazy and abnormal, and the condition is a result of a curse. In addition, people with physical disabilities are always treated as needy in the community.
R.S. also noted that she works through sickness unless she is bedridden. However, she believes rehabilitation is needed for recovery. In her culture, people with chronic illnesses should be treated with compassion. She also believes organ donation is okay, but she is not an organ donor herself. She is not averse to blood transfusion and would consider organ transplant if needed. Healthcare services are readily accessible and affordable to her, and she feels welcome to see a healthcare professional. The only traditional healthcare practice she does is aromatherapy.
Healthcare Practitioners
Being one, R.S. is open and free to see other physicians and nurses when she is ill. She also has no gender preference when seeing a healthcare provider, even when she needs intimate care. However, if asked, she would choose the best healthcare practitioner who respects her values and preferences and does not discriminate against her due to her race. In addition, she does not use any other healers besides physicians and nurses.
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Conclusion
Cultural assessments are an aspect of providing culturally competent care since they help understand the patient in-depth and tailor care services accordingly. Conducting the cultural assessment of Mrs. R.S. was an interesting experience. Despite being a nurse who is probably more informed on cultural issues and practices than one who is not a nurse, it was interesting to have her as a patient and understand her culture in depth for healthcare services provision. The assessment was comprehensive enough to help develop an understanding of how S.R.’s cultural beliefs and practices impact health, the quality of life, and care delivery Summary Of The Findings Of A Cultural Assessment Paper.
References
Giger, J. N., & Haddad, L. (2020). Transcultural nursing-e-book: Assessment and intervention. (8th Ed.) Elsevier Health Sciences.
Stubbe D. E. (2020). Practicing Cultural Competence and Cultural Humility in the Care of Diverse Patients. Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing), 18(1), 49–51. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.focus.20190041 Summary Of The Findings Of A Cultural Assessment Paper
