African American Care

Nurses General Nursing

Published

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!

Specializes in Orthosurgery, Rehab, Homecare.
Maybe those who did it are too old now. Eating dirt and/or cornstarch is supposed to be a remedy for morning sickness. A sister in law used to eat starch with a spoon from the box.

Could be the generation that did this is past reproductive age.

PS: Everyone I ever met who did this was from Mississippi or their mother was.

I had a diabetic patient who was doing this. I had to ask some of the older nurses if this was "normal" or if they had ever seen this before. One of them does it herself. We are in Michigan and she is middle aged. To each their own. Who would've thought. I'm sure we all do something that others would find strange or offensive.

~Jen

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Orthosurgery, Rehab, Homecare.
[color=darkslategray]you may want to look at the work of one of the professors (where i work) who had done significant research on skin breakdown in the minority geriatric population. his name is courtney lyder and here are some websites of various lectures he has given.

http://nursing.unc.edu/departments/oma/events.html

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3977/is_200103/ai_n8941149

http://community.nursingspectrum.com/magazinearticles/article.cfm?aid=13666

good luck, and happy hunting!

i saw dr. lyder speak at a wound care conference. he was wonderful!! funny and articulate. very knowlegable and a good presenter.

~jen

Up Vote Up Vote ×

As an African American, I have two words regarding patient care, lotion and a wide toothed comb. Also please be patient with large families.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
As an African American, I have two words regarding patient care, lotion and a wide toothed comb. Also please be patient with large families.

I knew eventually someone was going to say something offend. It was just inevitable....Yet again another due to be closed thread because of an ignorant remark. I guess white folks don't need lotion, use wide tooth combs or have large families, huh?:angryfire African American my eye....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
I knew eventually someone was going to say something offend. It was just inevitable....Yet again another due to be closed thread because of an ignorant remark. I guess white folks don't need lotion, use wide tooth combs or have large families, huh?:angryfire African American my eye....

The person you quote spoke for themselves. I seriously doubt they were speaking for a whole population...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Community Health Nurse.
as an african american, i have two words regarding patient care, lotion and a wide toothed comb. also please be patient with large families.

perhaps this is true in taking care of yourself and those you know, but it is too general of a statement to throw out in caring for others you do not know.

as a woman of color -- i use lotion. so do my caucasian relatives. i do not use a wide-toothed comb though because i have very thin straight hair.

please do not throw out generalizations when so many people are here to truly learn about the care of patients they care for that are of a different race than themselves.

thank you! :nurse:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

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)

helloooo! i wear my hair without any chemicals in it and i don't put oil in my hair.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Yes, its me agian.

Being under 30 (only 26, to be exact), I'm never entirely certain what to call people of other races. I think it was a whole thing in the 80's where I kept hearing arguments about what to call people, then the 90's getting into the 'Politicaly Correct' titles for things. As a child we went from being told not to call African Americans '******s' because it was racially derogitive. Then we were told that calling them 'black' was equally as offensive b/c you should look beyond the colour of a person's skin. We didn't want to call them 'African Americans' because it was offensive to either A. people of dark complexions not decended from from Africans, or B. felt it was a negative impression resulting from their ancestroy rather than their personal accomplishments, or C. African Americans can also be 'white'. I could go on and on, but after 2 decades I'm still afraid to call anyone anything besides 'Sir' or 'Madam' (which is English, and is considered offensive to add the 'e' on the end, but if you're French, is 'Madame' as its considered offensive to leave OFF the 'e' on the end).

Anyway...

I have heard that regarding African American people, that at one time people found that term to be offensive. I am African American, and that is the term I prefer. I dont think the word black defines me or any other person for that matter. due to my extensive hertiage. I actually fine that word rude.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in pediatrics.
I have heard that regarding African American people, that at one time people found that term to be offensive. I am African American, and that is the term I prefer. I dont think the word black defines me or any other person for that matter. due to my extensive hertiage. I actually fine that word rude.

It's funny I feel completely opposite. I'm black and 38. I grew up being called black and was a little miffed that our "black leaders" one day decided that we needed to be African - American. Nobody asked us black folk if we needed or wanted a change. When I think African - American, I think of someone who is first or second generation from Africa. No different than I would consider somenone Italian- American as someone who was first or second generation from Italy. I'm afraid my family has been in this country far to long to be anything but American at this point. I have no more time to Africa than white folks have to Germany or England or Russia or any country other than America. Sorry for not towing the politically correct line. Personally, if someone throws a hissy fit because you called them Black instead of African-American, they have issues to work out. You are always gonna offend somebody so don't put to much time into worrying about it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Two nurses the same age with different opinions.Can't say it is because you were too young for kindergarden when "P;ack and Proud" was the saying.

PS: I've never been proud of my skin color, but certainly take pride in the work we nurses do.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Two nurses the same age with different opinions.Can't say it is because you were too young for kindergarden when "P;ack and Proud" was the saying.

PS: I've never been proud of my skin color, but certainly take pride in the work we nurses do.

I think that being proud of your skin color is not the issue here, being proud of your hertiage and who you are as a person is. I can certaintly say that I am quite proud of who my ancestors were, and the contributions they made to society. I am very proud to be a nurse also which is something I have accomplish, and hope to go on to be a nurse practioner or physican and one day hopefully my children's children will be proud of who their ancestors were.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

  • Family structure - the family structure of the rural people is extended and every communal in nature. Problem is accommodation and basic amenities will be inadequate and expensive to be able to maintain the livelihood of an extended family
  • Norms/values - in rural communities' norms of behavior and more simple, coherent and known to all members of the group. The elders have vested authority to maintain order and this includes the head of the family. Problem is in urban setting norms of behavior are very complex and are controlled external persons - government. The extended family will find it difficult to adjust to complex rules of behavior which are also controlled by unknown individuals. This often results in cultural shock [exposure to an alien cultural environment with fundamental different beliefs from that of the individual or group. Family structure, norms/values, employer opportunities, means of production, social status, relationships, habit and lifestyle, decision making, socialization of off-spring and urban environment.
  • Employment opportunities - the rural family nearly everyone is working in an occupation related to agriculture. Each family member contributes in various work assignments to meet the needs of the family. Problem in the areas the work environment is highly complex, specialized and is characterized by intense technology. The work is also very scanty de to rising urbanization; it then becomes difficult therefore to find employment by rural persons.
  • Social status - individuals status in the extended rural family is determined by the kinship relations [ascribed status]. In the urban setting the individual's status is achieved by high level of competition and conflict. Problem is the rural family status will change in the urban area and become diffused, because of the change in status the rural family often loose identity, esteem and feel alienated.]
  • Relationships - the relationship of the rural families are known to be supportive, close, intimate, long lasting because members have been socialized in accordance with a homogenous tradition. Problem in the urban areas relations are said to be impersonal, temporary and anonymous, therefore the rural family will experience in sense of loneliness, boredom, alienation, insecurity and distrust which might later lead to emotional pathologies. Responsibilities are complex and expensive and might create a conflict situation for the rural family.
  • Urban environment is very alien to the rural family e.g. lack of privacy and personal space, high walls fencing, crime rate, fast life style may create a feeling of insecurity to the rural person though at lest transport is readily available.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment