Communication In Nursing

This paper will discuss the importance of health literacy and correct communication and how the nurse demonstrated this while caring for Kate. It will then go on to look at the importance of the nurses personal philosophy of practice and the ways in which she demonstrated this relating back to the Treaty of Waitangi. Lastly it will discuss important reasons to provide culturally appropriate care for people relating this back to the nurse.

Health literacy is defined as a person’s ability to understand and process basic health information (Lambert & Keogh, 2014; McMurray & Clendon, 2011.) This also includes being able to the access health information (Lambert & Keogh, 2014). Health literacy involves three components: comprehension, participation
This was demonstrated by Kate’s daughter Peri wanting to care for her mother at home. It was important the nurse described and explained everything in detail so she would understand the importance of the treatment and the correct way to deliver it (Cherrington, 2011). Peri was educated on Kate’s drugs learning their effects and possible reactions and shown how to correctly perform any procedures (Cherrington, 2011). Peri was also shown how to monitor Kate’s saline to avoid her getting dehydrated and what to do in case of an emergency if the nurse was not there. (Cherrington, 2011). The nurse not only explained how to administer the medication, but also why it was needed, the effects it would have therefore giving Peri a full understanding. This was clearly shown when Kate’s syringe was not placed in properly and she began to show signs of distress. Peri was clearly able to ring the nurse and explain what the machine was doing, indicating it was working but also able to notice the fluid had not lowered (Cherrington, 2011). This showed that Peri was a wear of what was normal and what was
The nurse explains Maori rituals according to the laws of tapu, these rituals are passed on from generation to generation (Cherrington, 2011). These rituals become more sacred with a death the nurse witnessed this with Kate’s death when the women prepared her body for the undertaker by washing her (Cherrington, 2011). Special detail is taking ensuring there are separate buckets of water for the body and head including towels (Cherrington, 2011). The nurse stated in this time unless asked by the women to help she just watches offering encouragement for the whānau. Although she does support and ensure they treat the dead with respect as if they were still alive, making sure they are not exposed at anytime during the washing and preparation time (Cherrington, 2011). Maori see items used to care for the head as very sacred and in Kate’s death these items including a hairbrush were wrapped to be buried with her (Cherrington, 2011). After Kate’s death the nurse also ensured all spiritual steps were taken to avoid any evil spirits affecting the whānau and their home. In this case she called a minister to the house to bless the dirty laundry this is done in relation to the laws of tap and noa (Cherrington,