Cultural nursing

Australia is home to one of the most culturally diverse populations in the world, and the population continues to grow (National Health and Medical Research Council, 2006). This expanding diversity creates a potpourri of cultural attitudes, beliefs and values unlike the dominant Westernised view. The cultural differences impact on how people understand and experience end-of-life in the country. Customary practices of caring for the terminally ill that permeates in most African communities differ vastly from that of Australian’s individualistic culture (Hiruy & Mwanri, 2013). African culture is of a collectivistic nature whereby autonomy is devalued and the communities or families are expected to care for the sick. As with most ethnic minority groups, this culture can become altered or suppressed when subjected to the influences of another overriding culture (Kirmayer, 2012). For these reasons, the aim of the paper is to facilitate an understanding of the process to achieve culturally competent care. This paper begins with a description of an interaction between a student nurse who held a western set of values and a patient of African origin. The paper then discusses the cultural biasness against the minority group as well as the power relationships involved resulting in the suppression of the African end of life practices. A reflective discussion regarding the best approach to deliver culturally competent care during the interaction will also be presented.

Case study
Talib (pseudonym) was an African man in his 80s who was transferred to the palliative care ward following an episode of cardiac arrest. When the student nurse first encountered Talib and his family, they appeared to be reserved and kept to themselves most of the time. Talib’s family took on the task of nursing Talib and refused to leave him alone even during the night shift. Talib’s family members also regularly communicated on behalf of Talib even though the patient was fluent in English.