Nsg/440 Self-Awareness with Vulnerable Populations: Hispanic Culture
Self-Awareness with Vulnerable Populations: Hispanic Culture
NSG/440
April 29, 2013
Self-Awareness with Vulnerable Populations: Hispanic Culture
The nursing profession requires caring for a culturally diverse group of patients. Health care professionals need to be mindful that one’s personal cultural background, values, and beliefs have a profound influence on health and how patients respond to medical care and compliance. There are many vulnerable populations that nurses care for every day, most are within the Hispanic population. Hispanics are one of the greatest increasing demographic population in the United States having a fifty eight percent increase between 1990 and 2000 (Kanna, Fersobe, Soni, & Michelen, 2008). The term “Hispanic” is typically defined by the country of origin and may be used interchangeably with the term Latino or Latina. This population is classified from the originating countries of Mexico, Puerto Rico, Central America, South America, and the Spanish West Indies (Weaver, 2011).
Human beings have a natural disposition to develop personal biases and stereotypes against a dissimilar culture. Prejudice and bias of the Hispanic population include their reluctance to learn the English language, low socioeconomic status, misuse of government resources and assistance, working for considerably lower wages, and not official citizens of our country. It becomes a challenge when providing care for these patients when there is a language barrier, having to use a translator to communicate or educate the patient. The simple task of educating on a healthy diet may also be a challenge, especially because the Hispanic diet is not known to the healthiest. Nurses also view the Hispanic population to be non-compliant with suggestions for a healthy lifestyle, diet, and medication regimen. There is an unrelenting bias that a majority of the Hispanic population does not have health insurance, therefore cannot afford medications that are
NSG/440
April 29, 2013
Self-Awareness with Vulnerable Populations: Hispanic Culture
The nursing profession requires caring for a culturally diverse group of patients. Health care professionals need to be mindful that one’s personal cultural background, values, and beliefs have a profound influence on health and how patients respond to medical care and compliance. There are many vulnerable populations that nurses care for every day, most are within the Hispanic population. Hispanics are one of the greatest increasing demographic population in the United States having a fifty eight percent increase between 1990 and 2000 (Kanna, Fersobe, Soni, & Michelen, 2008). The term “Hispanic” is typically defined by the country of origin and may be used interchangeably with the term Latino or Latina. This population is classified from the originating countries of Mexico, Puerto Rico, Central America, South America, and the Spanish West Indies (Weaver, 2011).
Human beings have a natural disposition to develop personal biases and stereotypes against a dissimilar culture. Prejudice and bias of the Hispanic population include their reluctance to learn the English language, low socioeconomic status, misuse of government resources and assistance, working for considerably lower wages, and not official citizens of our country. It becomes a challenge when providing care for these patients when there is a language barrier, having to use a translator to communicate or educate the patient. The simple task of educating on a healthy diet may also be a challenge, especially because the Hispanic diet is not known to the healthiest. Nurses also view the Hispanic population to be non-compliant with suggestions for a healthy lifestyle, diet, and medication regimen. There is an unrelenting bias that a majority of the Hispanic population does not have health insurance, therefore cannot afford medications that are
References: Cultural sensitivity and awareness in the delivery of health care. (2011, May). Committee Opinion, 493. Retrieved from http://www.acog.org/Resources%20And%20Publications/Committee%20Opinions/Committee%20on%20Health%20Care%20for%20Underserved%20Women/Cultural%20Sensitivity%20and%20Awareness%20in%20the%20Delivery%20of%20Health%20Care.aspx Jeffreys, M. (2008). Dynamics of diversity: Becoming better nurses through diversity awareness. NSNA Imprint, 55(5), 36-41. Retrieved from http://www.nsna.org/Portals/0/Skins/NSNA/pdf/Imprint_NovDec08_Feat_Jeffreys.pdf Kanna, B., Fersobe, S., Soni, A., & Michelen, W. (2008). Leading health risks, diseases and causes of mortality among Hispanics in United States of America (USA). Internet Journal of Health, 8(1). Leonard, B. J. (2001). Quality care celebrates diversity. Journal of Issues in Nursing, 6(2). Retrieved from http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/TableofContents/Volume62001/No2May01/NursingCareDiversity.aspx The Office of Minority Health. (2013). minorityhealth.hhs.gov/templates/browse.aspx?lvl=2&lvlid=16 Vargas, H., & Wilson, C. M. (2011). Managing worldview influences: Self-awareness and self-supervision in a cross-cultural therapeutic relationship. Journal of Family Psychotherapy, 22(2), 97-113. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08975353.2011.57768 Weaver, C. N. (2011). Hispanic prejudice in the United States. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 41(11), 2723-2738. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1559-1816.2011.00836.x