Cultural Competence in the Emerging Somali Population in Arizona
Cultural Competence in the Emerging Somali Population in Arizona
DeLana Brown
Grand Canyon University
Cultural Sensitivity Paper
NUR 502
July 22, 2012
Cultural Competence in the Emerging Somali Population in Arizona
The purpose of this paper is to find an article from a nursing journal that is focused on a cultural group and relate it to the cultural sensitivity in the work force environment. The article chosen by this writer is from the “Online Journal of Nursing Issues” republished through the “American Nurses Association” online journal, and discusses conflicts encountered in diverse cultures. The reason this writer chose the article is because she can relate this conflict to her current job in a local emergency department where a large Somali immigrant population seeks medical care. While Somali immigrants have largely immigrated to Minnesota, there has become a large population emerging in the Phoenix/Tucson metro areas in the last twenty years due to a civil war inhabiting their country since 1991.
This article discusses nursing in the United States and relates the ideology versus other cultures. The author states “The values of nursing in the States are, for example, embedded in the values of the U.S. American culture with its emphasis on self-reliance and individualism” (Ludwick, R., Silva, M.C., August 14, 2000), but notes that many cultures do not share our country’s sense of individualism and that the majority of these cultures have a sense of loyalty and identity to their group rather than to themselves, and these values not only relate to their family and community, but often to their health care needs as well. The conflict arises in the healthcare setting when the nurse attempts to supersede the cultural values and force their own beliefs onto the individual seeking medical care.
As mentioned above, Somalis began immigrating worldwide due to a civil war that began in their country in 1991. According to Somali Bantu Association
DeLana Brown
Grand Canyon University
Cultural Sensitivity Paper
NUR 502
July 22, 2012
Cultural Competence in the Emerging Somali Population in Arizona
The purpose of this paper is to find an article from a nursing journal that is focused on a cultural group and relate it to the cultural sensitivity in the work force environment. The article chosen by this writer is from the “Online Journal of Nursing Issues” republished through the “American Nurses Association” online journal, and discusses conflicts encountered in diverse cultures. The reason this writer chose the article is because she can relate this conflict to her current job in a local emergency department where a large Somali immigrant population seeks medical care. While Somali immigrants have largely immigrated to Minnesota, there has become a large population emerging in the Phoenix/Tucson metro areas in the last twenty years due to a civil war inhabiting their country since 1991.
This article discusses nursing in the United States and relates the ideology versus other cultures. The author states “The values of nursing in the States are, for example, embedded in the values of the U.S. American culture with its emphasis on self-reliance and individualism” (Ludwick, R., Silva, M.C., August 14, 2000), but notes that many cultures do not share our country’s sense of individualism and that the majority of these cultures have a sense of loyalty and identity to their group rather than to themselves, and these values not only relate to their family and community, but often to their health care needs as well. The conflict arises in the healthcare setting when the nurse attempts to supersede the cultural values and force their own beliefs onto the individual seeking medical care.
As mentioned above, Somalis began immigrating worldwide due to a civil war that began in their country in 1991. According to Somali Bantu Association
References: Barker, A. M. (2009). Advanced Practice Nursing: Essential Knowledge for the Profession. Sadbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett. Lehman, D. V. (2000). The Somali Bantu: Their History and Culture. Cultural Orientation Work Group (p. 2). Washington, DC: The Center for Applied Linguistics. Ludwick, R. S. (2000). Ethics: Nursing Around the World: Cultural Values and Ethical Conflicts. The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 1. Stratus Health. (2011). Somalis in Minnesota . Minneapolis-St. Paul: Stratus Health.