Application of the Nursing Process to Deliver Culturally Competent Care - 1375 Words

Application of the Nursing Process to Deliver Culturally Competent Care (Research Paper Sample) Content: Application of the Nursing Process to Deliver Culturally Competent Care Students Name: School Affiliation: Abstract The Latinos are Americaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s fastest-growing minority group and accounts for 15% of the US population. However, a significant portion of the group still lacks healthcare due to varied reasons. Some of the reasons are cultural and there is need to address them from the same perspective. Findings: at least 20% of Latinos do not have a usual healthcare provide. Some ignore the need for the services citing cultural beliefs. Methods: using the Giger and Davidhizar theory, anurse can help Latinos experience better healthcare outcomes Recommendations: nurses ought to employ the Giger and Davidhizar theory to offer culturally competent care. 1.0 Introduction The healthcare arena plays a critical role of handling health-related concerns for people from various cultural groups. Every medical practitioner strives to offer these services to all people irrespective of their cultural backgrounds. However, the healthcare needs of some cultural groups remain unaddressed mainly to cultural-related differences, beliefs, and attitudes. Many cultural theories and models meant to guide how nursing process ought to take place have been developed and popularized. The following discussion incorporates Giger and Davidhizar theory in discussing the healthcare needs of the Latinos. 1.1 Background The Latino group has been identified as the fastest-growing minority group in the US where it accounts for 15% of the US population. It is further expected that the population will have grown to 29% by 2050 (Livingston, Minushkin, Cohn, 2008). Concerning the groupà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s healthcare needs, statistics show a disparity whereby many still lack the access to healthcare. Apparently, 30% of foreign-born Latinos lack a usual healthcare provider compared to 22% of those born in the US that lack similar services. A further 32% of Latinos whose main language is Spanish do not have a provider compared to 22% of the same group with English proficiency. Still, 49% of the Latinos that have lived in the US for a period not exceeding five years do not have a healthcare provider compared with 21% of the same that have lived here for at least 15 years). Though the Latinos have a lower prevalence of chronic conditions than other US population, the groupà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s diabetes and obesity prevalence remain higher than other groups (Livingston et al., 2008). A significant portion of Latinos access health-related information from various sources including the internet, television, and newspaper. Surprisingly, over one-fourth of Latinos report that they do not have access to health information especially from medical practitioners. Interestingly, high school graduates lack a usual place for medical care but their reasons are somewhat ironic. In the study, Livingston et al., (2008) reported that 45% of the students are insured but hardly seek medical care. Upon further inquiry, many responded that their reasons for not seeking medical care were that they hardly feel sick. 2.0 Applying the Giger and Davidhizar theory The model has six dimensions that seek to tackle various cultural areas. The dimensions include communication, social organizations, space, biological variations, and environmental control. The model argues that nurses ought to recognize and appreciate the cultural differences, values, customs, and beliefs exhibited by patients. To offer relevant and effective healthcare services, the model opines that nurses need to possess skills and knowledge in cultural competency. Essentially, a culturally competent nurse ought to help patients to access satisfactory healthcare and ensure positive outcomes (Giger, 2011). The modelà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s position is that every individual is culturally unique and ought to be handled as such. It, therefore, advocates nurses ought to help patients as per the latterà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s culture without bias. 2.1 Communication Nurses using the Giger and Davidhizar model to help the Latinos need to understand how communication works in the sharing of information. According to this model, communication in culturally competent care is imperative and leads to the sharing of information, ideas, and feelings between the nurse and the patient. Communication is often characterized by the use of touch, tone, rhythm, and body posture (Giger, 2011). Thus, a nurse needs to understand how a Latino communicates using these elements and respond accordingly. As seen earlier, most Latinos avoid seeking medical care not due to cost but as a result of a culture. Therefore, a nurse needs communicate with such a patient without sounding prejudicial. At this stage, the nurse will obtain all the information from a Latino and use it to help the patient. 2.2 Space In the Giger and Davidhizar model, Space dimension entails the intimacy and distance techniques applied when verbally and nonverbally communicating with others. While communicating with patients, nurses need to be aware of the interpersonal space. Space includes personal, intimate, public, and social and consultative. A nurse has to know Latinosà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ territoriality which is a feeling toward a personal area. A violation of a patientà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s intimate and personal space can lead to discomfort and result in the patient abandoning treatment (Giger, 2011). While helping a Latino patient who might be suffering from diabetes, the nurse will need to know the space and offer relevant assistance. A nurse can avoid the violation by communicating with the patient without mentioning the latterà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s cultural habits and beliefs that might be perceived as intrusive and offensive. 2.3 Social organization In this model, Social organization entails the manner in which a particular cultural group organizes itself in the area of the family group. In some groups, the family group remains the most influential social organization and change emanating from this area is strong. Social organization in the area of family deals with religious beliefs, structure and organization, values, and role assignments in a cultural group (Giger, 2011). In case such groups hold religious beliefs, it embraces the trend as a culture, treats senior family members with respect. In the case Latinos, many still hold on to religious beliefs and esteem their families highly. Further, most Latinos exhibit low levels of individuality and place emphasis on the well-being of the family. Most family members support each other in various areas of life including health-related needs (Valentine, Godkin, Doughty, 2008). A nurse helping a Latino patient can use this information to ensure positive outcomes. Such a nurse could ask the patient to be accompanied by another relative especially one that is highly esteemed by the client. For instance, a young Latino patient could be accompanied by their parents since the young patient is likely to accept the advice given by the parents. Further, the parent is likely to offer vital support to the patient hence fast-tracking the recovery process. Such support is imperative since most Latinos delay healthcare, ignore minor illnesses, and often drop out of treatment as soon as symptoms disappear (Livingston et al., 2008). The nurse needs to have this knowledge to ensure they offer culturally competent care. 2.4 Environme...

Pharaohs and Kings Essay - 1650 Words

Pharaohs and Kings (Essay Sample) Content: Name: Alicia AtkinsInstructor:Course:Date:Pharaohs and Kings The study of ancient forms of leadership and other related factors has always outlined an interesting account. The style of leadership and the cooperation maintained by the subjects becomes the main area of concern in among other aspects. During the reign of the pharaohs in Egypt, and that of the medieval kings, it is believed that religion took the center stage. This is especially evident in the fact that kings and/or pharaohs were accorded the highest of respect as it was believed that they were chosen by God. In addition subjects were forced to observe other aspects regarding the welfare of the king either in life or in death. The picture therefore comprises of the pharaohs in Egypt and the kings of the medieval era. Their accounts might seem to portray some similarities in the way matters were handled, but they surely pose huge differences. Ancient pharaohs of Egypt in this case had their own share of ac counts that probably interest many people. It is believed that they existed within a total of 30 dynasties whereby more than 170 rulers exercised their authority. Egyptian pharaohs were considered as both divine figures and mortal beings with their subjects giving them the required attention. The issue of divinity was applied by the subjects perception of the king as Horus or in other words the protector of the sun god. On the other hand, once a pharaoh met his death he became considered as Osiris or the ruler of the dead. Therefore the pharaohs corpse was given the best care ever, in order to ensure that they performed their duties in death accordingly. Ancient Egyptians also believed that if the former pharaoh was not accorded the respect he required certain traditional codes would be violated and disaster would strike thereafter. This was actually the primary idea that gave birth to the famous mummies of ancient Egypt (Peggy 55). The kings bodies were preserved in special tombs t hat were furnished to the fullest. The items included furniture, gold, food and sometimes sculptures that depicted the presence of servants around the king. Offerings made to the body were set to be continued for very long periods of time after the king passed away. The ancient Egyptian throne was kind of organized in terms of structure but was marred with controversies at the same time. The basic structure stipulated that it was to be inherited from the father by his son, but mysterious disappearances of the would-be successors characterized the scene most of the time. It is believed that such candidates were killed or eliminated to pave way for certain individuals. New kingdoms came and passed whereby, shifting of hands from one family to the other was common yet against the original concept of the kingdoms structure. In order to protect the leadership from slipping out of their families; it is believed that rulers resulted to marrying their daughters, sisters, granddaughters and their brothers but the plan had its limitations as well. Leadership still changed hands and this further culminated into a very complicated description of the Egyptian kingdom. Nevertheless, the old Egyptian kingdom is credited with having established a government of stability along the Nile valley. It is also understood that they heavily depended on water from river Nile to a greater extent, to support their course (Peggy 57). Some of the most remarkable and perhaps the landmarks of ancient Egyptian success are embodied in the Pyramids and tombs built under the influence of the kings. The structures were either built under the supervision of the king, or for the purpose of burying the king bin a befitting manner. According to Peggy (68) The pyramids of Egypt stand out as world class marvels even today and represent the architectural intellect of ancient Egyptians amongst many other factors. It is believed that tombs specifically built for the king were first to be discovered and g ave birth to the idea of the pyramid. Tombs were used to shelter the corpses of dead kings and almost resembled the pyramids if not for the flattened tops. Built under the supervision of the king, the pyramids supposedly portray the prowess of local Egyptian workers as opposed to the notion that they were actually built by slaves. Most of the builders were believed to be permanent employees in pharaohs home while others were simply villagers induced into the building process. Architects in the process were able to attain a pyramid shape by improvising methods that still amaze people today. On the other hand priests and astronomers combined their efforts in choosing the sites for the pyramid, in accordance with sacred constellations. The pyramids remain as the most prolific symbols of ancient Egyptian kingdoms and portray the extent of leadership qualities of the kings. It is also remembered that the ancient Egyptian kingdom was gender sensitive since women were also part of the lead ership roles experienced during the period. Even though ancient times were dominated by men in terms of culture, a clique of women managed to crop up and rule the kingdom. The most remarkable names that characterized the field in terms of gender were, Hatshepsut and Cleopatra. Hatshepsut managed to rule for 20 years but her term was stopped after she disappeared under unclear circumstances (Peggy 23). Medieval kings on the other hand are believed to have lived beautiful lives with enough power, privilege and wealth. During their times they were placed at the highest societal levels and only the Catholic Church leaders could rival their worth. They were appointed in a divine way just like the pharaohs of Egypt if not for a few dissimilarities (Fossier 45). Medieval periods, like ancient Egyptian times, observed enough respect to divinity unlike the case today. The kings in this case were believed to have been chosen by God himself and thus they achieved the highest degree of authori ty. In other words medieval kings lived like small gods and wielded extreme power and wealth. Unlike the pharaohs who were duly respected by the subject, medieval kings were known to generate lots of controversy in the way they handled matters in their kingdoms. Their extreme powers led to turmoil and their reigns were usually short lived. They resulted to forming survival tactics that involved conquering other kingdoms to make sure that their kingdoms enlarged. Therefore, leadership issues in both the two accounts were subject to controversy albeit with contrasting aspects. As leadership changed hands in the medieval period it is important to note that the kings left behind legacies worth a lot of praise. The renaissance in particular is an example of the fruits of good work done by these kings in improving the lifestyles of the people. Education and living standards underwent considerable transformations and this replicated the situation in Egypt during the period of pharaohs. Thi s was despite a few cases of kings being selfish and only considering their personal goals. Generally they had the tendency of inclining towards the magnificent wealth and power, but they lef...