IMPROVING CULTURAL AWARENESS

Introduction

People of Latin American origin have to cope up with many opposing situations here. That is why it is necessary to find out what problems these people face. In order to provide them with sufficient facilities to gain quality health, these have to be evaluated carefully. In the present display of some slides we are going to come across some of these problems and at the same time we will try to see how these can be tackled effectively.

Population Group Feature

The 2010 US Census reveals that 16% of the American population is from Hispanic or Latin American origin. In 2000 US Census the percentage was 13%. So these people are increasing year by year. In fact, in the US population this ethnicity has grown most among all other ethnicities if we look at last 10 years of statistics.

Health Hazards

Compared to the remaining US population, the Latino people get affected by some chronic illnesses much more.

Women of this group of population suffer more from health conditions than men.

Financial hardship and lack of access to right healthcare facilities are the main grounds.

Among the chronic health problems diabetes, cardiac problem and arthritis are foremost.

Aspects of Environmental or Societal Risk

“Financial Stress: Healthcare Expense Emigrated People: Authorized vs.

Unlawful Transport Facility: Without Driving

License Inadequate Communication: Language

Barrier

Prototype of Cultural Awareness Developing an understanding of ethnic and

social beliefs, ideals and traditions disturbing the healthcare access by the Latino or Hispanic people.

Sharing of cultural experiences related to taking care of the patients of the particular group to increase the efficiency of nursing.

Establishment of a feeling of being in the same group can enhance the understanding of the culture.

Employing the Cultural Awareness Prototype to Hispanic Patients

Acknowledge, value and then use the cultural knowledge of Hispanic population to provide healthcare facilities.

Nurses need to be educated in Hispanic tradition.

Sharing of nursing experience can benefit all the colleagues as anyone may have insight into a particular type of problem of offering healthcare services to the Hispanic groups.

Initial Policy

Raise participation of Latinos in the

nursing and healthcare areas

Raise more prospect of education

Employment and reserve plans

Awareness programs at high schools

Development of mentoring

Second Step

Raise awareness of culture of non-Latino

nursing specialist

Arrange Workshops/Seminars

Teach language proficiency

Help from interpreters or similar service

Raising comprehension of variation among

cultures

Core Hindrance

Insufficient entry to healthcare facilities

Problem with document filling

Transport problem

Monetary problem

Insufficient or no insurance coverage

Inability to see how American system works

Secondary Hindrances

Language Incompetency and differences in cultural ideals and traditions Many Latinos are inefficient in speaking,

reading, or writing English Most healthcare givers have different cultures

of their own Latinos have different conceptions about illness

and its roots and cures Healthcare employees may not understand

Latino belief system and traditions

Healthy People 2020 Policy Conscious communities can

accommodate healthy citizens

Identifying Main Health marker

Implementation of plans

Categorize Objectives, Mission and Dream

Identify Major Areas for Discussion

Watson’s Theory: Overview

Jean Watson - Her Transpersonal Nursing

Theory

Expected change in patients

Medical caritas procedure

REFERENCESAndrews, M. M., & Boyle, J. S. (1997, August). Competence in

transcultural nursing care. The American Journal of Nursing, 97(8), pp. 16AAA, 16BBB, 16DDD.

Cooper, M., Grywalski, M., Lamp, J., Newhouse, L., & Studlien, R. (2007). Enhancing cultural competence: a model for nurses. Nursing For Women's Health, 11(2), 148-159.

De Chesnay, M., & Anderson, B. A. (Eds.). (2008). Caring for the vulnerable: Perspectives in nursing theory, practice and research (2nd ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett.

Friedman, M.M., Bowden, V. R., Jones, E. G. (2003). Cultural Diversity Among Families. Family Nursing: Research, Theory, and Practice (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

George, J. B. (2011). Theory of transpersonal caring: Jean Watson. Nursing theories: The base for professional nursing practice (6th ed. Pp 454-478) Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson

Health, United States, 2010. (2011, February.) Retrieved December 10, 2011, from Centers for Disease Control:http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/hus10.pdf#60

REFERENCES

Holland, L., & Courtney, R. (1998). Increasing cultural competence with the Latino Community. Journal of Community Health Nursing, 15(1), pp. 45-53.

Siman, F. M. (2009, March/April). Cross-cultural issues and health care advocacy for immigrants in North Carolina. North Carolina Medical Journal, 70(2), pp. 149-152.

The Hispanic Population 2010. (2011, May). Retrieved December 10, 2011, from United States Census 2010:http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-04.pdf

Wells, M. I. (2000, Winter). Beyond cultural competence: A model for individual and institutional cultural development. Journalof Community Health Nursing, 17(4), pp. 189-199.

Zambrana, R. E., & Carter-Pokras, O., (2004). Latino health and behavior. Encyclopedia of Health and Behavior. Retrieved December 15, 2011, from http://sage-ereference.com/view/behavior/n143.xm