African American Care

[CametoitlateTexan]

Received an assignment today to report on African American health beliefs and practices as they relate to patient care. Anyone have any thoughts on resources or how to provide culturally competent care ?

Thanks in advance for your help!

[CametoitlateTexan]

Well, this thread certainly tapped into some strong beliefs. Thanks to everyone and keep it coming!

[Drysolong]

It's been my experience, that if someone asked a white American what their nationality is, they'll say something like, "Irish American", if their ancestors are from Ireland. The only true Americans are the American Indians. Everyone else is from some other country. If the "African Americans", had not been enslaved, we would know what African country we were from.

That's what sticks in my craw.

I am just reading this thread, and I was trying my best to hold any response until I finished reading the entire thread. But I had to say that I agree wholeheartedly with you on this one! I hope everyone truly understands what you have expressed.

[hooterhorse]

managing the hair and skin of african american pediatric patients.

smith w, burns c.

multonomah county health department, portland, ore., usa.

in africa, the ancestral home of most african americans, hair is viewed as the epitome of beauty. however, when africans were brought to america as slaves, they were unable to care for their hair and skin adequately and were exposed to the predominant white culture, which valued straight hair and light skin. as a result, many african americans lost self-esteem because of the characteristics of their hair and skin. in this article we examine the anatomic and physiologic features of african american hair and skin and typical african american hair and skin care practices. common african american hair and skin disorders and their management are discussed. the goal of this article is to help primary care providers understand the special hair and skin care required for african american children (as well as other dark-skinned patients). with good patient education, understanding one's own hair and skin characteristics can also support positive self-esteem.

please note:

"in this article we examine the anatomic and physiologic features of african american hair and skin and typical african american hair and skin care practices."

...this was posted on the pub/med website...so am i that far off being concerned that i am not familiar the health care needs of african-american type hair?? of course you would ask any patient how they care for their hair, i'm just saying that i am totally unfamiliar and "ingorant" to the need and practice of having to apply oils to the hair. its hard to find reputable information on the web, but the national library of medicine and the national institutes of health can certainly be considered credible when searching for the physiology of african-american type hair.

hooterhorse (not intending to start any war of words with this either)

[Drysolong]

as a black person, here are some things that are culturally relevant to providing health care to african-americans.

1. direct eye contact may be interpreted as rude

2. person may seek home remedies or witch doctor before seeking professional help

3. due to matriarchal family structures, person may seek advice from a trusted older female relative before seeking professional help

4. high fat, high sodium diet is commonly consumed. there's a preference for fried foods

5. personal touch is perfectly acceptable among close friends and relatives, but is offensive among strangers and acquaintances

6. there's a tendency to be present-oriented and take the day as it comes. person might be late to appointments since punctuality isn't stressed

thecommuter

i am not picking on you, but i found the comments made in your posts interesting to say the least. you start off by saying "as a black person"; then you go on to list things found in two chapters of your nursing textbooks, not your experiences as a black person.

your comment: "sorry, but not all blacks in america are so-called 'african-americans'. there's a significant population of other nationalities who happen to be black" is very true as can be seen by the many of the responses.

that's why cametoitlatetexan and all other nursing students should ask their instructors to specify who they are referring to when they say african-americans.

i consider myself an african-american, because i and my parents and grandparents were born in america. however, my great-grandparents and back were from the continent of africa. i didn't fit into your textbook's description. i once passed a test concerning cultural differences, but flunked the question pertaining to african-american culture because what was asked didn't pertain to me or my culture.

a term that i can relate to is "the diaspora" which i take to mean people of color with historical origins in africa who are citizens of various nations of the world due to numerous reasons. there is no way that one cultural value or belief system can be attributed to all these people.

so as has been stated in many of the responses, just treat your patients with respect and perhaps ask them individually about what is acceptable to them, if there seems to be any conflict.

[hafsa44]

Hi I've read most of the post and I'm here to say that I am black woman, I'm also muslim and have been all my life. I have never heard none of these stero-types in my cultral as a black person. But as a muslim in the religion of Al-Islam we do not look people in the eye mainly men because of protecting your modesty so yes it's part of the religion. I read those very same things in the nursing textbook when I was in nursing school the instructor made actually read it to the class when we were learning how to respect different culture majority of my class were black we all laughed when we read this. I was really bother over the being late part only because I take being on time very seriously I almost always on time everywhere I go and most I'm extremely early the person who wrote this in the nursing textbook obviously don't know any black people.

[hooterhorse]

It is extremely difficult knowing how to respond using the proper "classification" when discussing practices of different cultures. Classification is something that we are taught not to do, yet in teaching us....they have to classify! The info in the text is not set in stone and should only be used to raise awareness that we ALL are individuals and cultural differences may be present. But even as idividual as we are, we do share some commonalities. These commonalites must be taken into consideration in order to be aware of generalized health care needs PRIOR to assessing for individualized care or for assessing the needs of people that are not capable of expressing their own personal needs.

I am ashamed to say that I live in a very ignorant area of the world when it comes to being familiar with hair care and health care needs of dark skinned peoples. Certainly not all african american people have the same hair type... a big factor is how much african and how much "american" they are for one (yep, the old classification no-no again). But its safe to say that the physiology of african hair IS different from what I am familiar with and that ignorance is keeping me from properly caring for one of the nursing home residents. The simple fact that everyone turns to an african american CNA to take care of this person's hair properly is inexcusable! In their constant search for inservice topics....don't ya think that proper hair care techniques and products should be available to this resident and familiarized with all the staff caring for her needs?? Especially since she has not been able to assert her own needs and desires in the day to day assembly line type function of the long term care nursing facility.

Hooterhorse

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

It seems to me like the writers of these textbooks may be superimposing african culture onto american black people, and that's pretty silly. There really is not a solid, homogenous "african-american culture"- it differs by region, socioeconomic status, etc. The shared experience of being generalized and stereotyped, (oh boy I feel the soapbox coming on) however, is something all our racial groups have in common.

Amen!!!

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

Political Correctness sticks in my craw, but I'm not under the age of 30, and when I was growing up, black/Black WAS the acceptable term. I have a hard time referring to people whose families have been living in America since long before the time of the Civil War as 'African' Americans. Might just as well call me an Irish-Canadian, even though my family immigrated here before the potato famine! (Very early 1800's)

Completely agree!

[SharonH, RN]

But its safe to say that the physiology of african hair IS different from what I am familiar with and that ignorance is keeping me from properly caring for one of the nursing home residents. The simple fact that everyone turns to an african american CNA to take care of this person's hair properly is inexcusable! In their constant search for inservice topics....don't ya think that proper hair care techniques and products should be available to this resident and familiarized with all the staff caring for her needs?? Hooterhorse

Relax! I admire your committment to provide for all of your patients' needs but the care of AA hair cannot be covered in an inservice. I've been African-American for 36 years and I have all of my hair care needs as well as those of my daughter taken care of by a professional. If there is one person in the facility who knows how to do it, there's nothing wrong with letting her handle it.

[FocusRN]

Okay I didn't read the whole thread (I usually never do). But I did want to chime in for a second.

I think that eye contact is required when speaking to someone, as a form of respect. I don't think that you can say just about a whole race of people don't like it. With that said eye contact can be disrespectful, I do it all of the time while driving. It's all about the body language that goes along with that eye contact.

Next up I am always on time. Actually I am always 30 minute to an hour early. I don't care what any one says that was a stereotype.

I love fried food, and eat lots of fat and sodium, but so do many of the people in my height and weight range. Another stereotype.

What I think we all need to understand is that culture does not always equal race. Culture incoporates social groups and activites. A race is just that.

Lat but certainly not least, I am not African American. Why? Well, because a term like that in this country refers to a person that was born in another country and then gained citizenship here. My family has been in this country for hundrends of years (both before and during the slave trade) Therefore I am an American, but see how things are right now, with my hometown and the federal government, the president doesn't seem to think that those of us from New Orleans are Americans. Off Topic so let's move on. I am not black? Why? Well, because the last time I checked, black was a color or better yet the absence of color or light (however you like it). I don't like it and take offense when I am called Black or African American. Now if a person wishes to describe me by my dispora, I can be called an African (including Egyption), Hatian,European, Hispanic or Latina(including Mexico and Spain) American; because that is what I am comprised of. But if on the other hand one wishes to decribe me by color, I can be called Sweet Honey Caramel Brown, because that is what my skin color is. Otherwise just call me an American

[live4today, RN]

.................................what i think we all need to understand is that culture does not always equal race. culture incoporates social groups and activites. a race is just that.

...........................i am not african american. why? well, because a term like that in this country refers to a person that was born in another country and then gained citizenship here. my family has been in this country for hundrends of years (both before and during the slave trade) therefore i am an american.........................................just call me an american

amen!!! so very very true! :thankya: :yelclap:

[live4today, RN]

Different types of hair, skin coloring, and facial features in Americans

With so many types of hair, skin coloring, and facial features in every race...how can one possibly treat one person of a race the same way as he/she would treat another person of the same race? Tell me...how does one do that?