African American Care

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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 Med/Surg, Geriatrics.
******student alert*****i thought eating dirt was pica? is this not true?:uhoh3:

sinn ;)

eating dirt is pica but it is believed that if it is done in the context of a cultural practice then it is not pathological.

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I second that! :rotfl: As a matter of fact, I would take that textbook directly to the Dept. Head of the College and insist that textbook be taken off the shelves, and newly updated textbooks with more ACCURATE information be purchased. I did this at my college when the information regarding the care of Black patients was soooooooo INACCURATE as far as I was concerned. The very next quarter, the nursing students had all new textbooks with newly updated information that made sense to me. The old ones were taken out of circulation and not used again. So, please go see the Dean of the college, or the Dept Head about what you and many nursing students are being taught that is FALSE information regarding Black patients in this country.

Keep in mind that in caring for ANY race patient....don't ASSUME anything about how to care for them, or what to feed them, etc. ASK...that way a nurse doesn't make a fool out of himself/herself in front of patients, visitors, and other healthcare professionals or ancillary staff members assisting in patient care areas. :)

"You ain't never lied." For those that aren't aware, that's ebonics for you're telling the truth. :rotfl:

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Yeah. One of my best friends is Italian-American, I know this because she proudly tells me and anyone else who will listen although she, her parents and grandparents were born and raised in MILWAUKEE. She proudly tells me of various customs and beliefs she practices because she's Italian, I bet it doesn't stick in anyone's craw when she says that. I have another friend who says that she is of Scotch-Irish descent she thinks and her Daddy puts on a kilt once a year to honor his presumed ancestry but no one cringes at that and says he is being politically correct, in fact I always tease her and offer her a special greeting on St. Paddy's day but when I refer to myself as African-American people get upset. I'm supposed to ignore my ancestry, or better yet pretend it never happened.:rolleyes:

:thankya: :thankya: :thankya:

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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)

Jay, I have a friend that felt the same way as you until I gave her this explanation. I asked her what her nationality she was. She proudly announced that she was "French and Irish". I then asked her, what country/nationality is named "Black". At first she looked at me like a deer in headlights, and then the light came on. She told me she'd never thought about it in those terms. I believe that's why it's so important for people to have friends from all different nationalities, religions, sexual persuations, etc. etc. We can learn so much from each other.

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One thing I have found when dealing with African Americans is that they like being treated like anyone else. In fact, everyone likes being treated like everyone else. I live in a culturally diverse city and have not found it necessary to culturally adjust my interactions with patients.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Geriatrics.
One thing I have found when dealing with African Americans is that they like being treated like anyone else. In fact, everyone likes being treated like everyone else. I live in a culturally diverse city and have not found it necessary to culturally adjust my interactions with patients.

:thankya: This is essentially what all nursing care should boil down to. Just treat people right.

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Specializes in RNC in OB and experience in Peds.
but black caribbean families and islanders who reside in the u.s. often confide in witch doctors.
i would hold some truth to this statement if "black" was omitted. there are other races who live in the caribbean (ie:you can easily see a white-jamaican wearing locs).

so for me i would say some caribbeans who reside in the us often confide in witch doctors, etc.

******student alert*****i thought eating dirt was pica? is this not true?:uhoh3:

sinn ;)

never heard of the dirt thing, but i have read about pregnant women eating things like corn starch, chalk, ice and these are forms of pica.
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I think that it is also important to remember that although some of the things listed may be true for some people, they are just generalizations. Most African Americans are born and raised in the U.S. and so some of those generalizations are just the not true, in fact the opposite may be true. I am black and I think that direct eye contact is very important and I always try to maintain eye contact when speaking with someone and I would be offended if a nurse didn't give me eye contact when speaking to me. I also value punctuality very much, because it is a good personality trait. I don't believe a person's race has anything to do with how they value time or their eating habits, these things are related to culture and socioeconomic status and the mainstream culture is the American culture that a lot of people, regardless of race, adapt to. So I like to keep all those things that are specific to each culture in mind, but your interaction with any person really depends on what that person's characteristics and not the generalized characteristics of that person's race.

I agree.

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Specializes in ICU, telemetry, LTAC.

When it comes to this subject, the other posters have done a lot to let you know some of the things that can take us silly people a long time to figure out.

1. Race and culture are not the same thing. In the south, culture overlaps several races, particularly when it comes to eating habits.

2. Everything about a person influences how they deal with healthcare, not just their race. People want to apply the question that the OP was asked to this one race because they are assuming that most black people are in a similar situation, i.e., poor. It's very revealing that someone will ask this type of question. I prefer more specific questions.

3. Sensitivities to the way black history is taught in america are not going to just go away, because it's taught as "different" or "separate" from regular american history, or it's not taught at all. And no, two weeks in american history covering the civil war isn't gonna do it.

4. I've had black women slightly older than me tell me that they much prefer I don't call them "hon" and that it would really tick off their grandmothers if I did that. This was prior to my being a nurse. And yes, I had to ask 'cause they gave me a funny look, and bygolly I had to know what it was about.

5. If you have a real desire to know something, people aren't going to withhold their opinions from you. If you are just being condescending, you'll get little to no info. People from all races and cultures can tell the difference. So when we say, when in doubt just ask the patient, we're complimenting your presumed real desire to use the information for good. (ok maybe that made no sense.)

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Indy,

Your post made very good sense!

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I am an African (from Africa), and Yes (1) many pregnant women eat dirt. A recent study showed that it was actually healthy to do so. (2) Looking away is practised by many Africans - by directly looking at someone especially older person means disrispectful, rude and lack of shame. Relgion also has some influence: In Islam for example, people talk while looking down and not directly, especially if they are of different gender. I am not sure if this is inflluenced by the individual culture or it is part of the religion. I will verify this once I get further info. Have an open mind when dealing with others.

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QUOTE=TheCommuter]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

All of this sounds like the same stuff that was in my Foundations book. First time I read I knew the person who wrote it had no experience being around Black people. I'm Black and I didn't know anyone who lived like this. Hmmmm, maybe they were referring to "Black Slaves" or something, cause it sure ain't the present day Blacks.

1.) Direct eye contact as being rude.

Don't know about everyone else, but if a person doesn't look me in the eyes at least once in the conversation I am sensing a liar or they got something to hide. Most Black people think the same way.

2.) Seeking a witch doctor.

Man where these Black folks at cause I wanna talk to them! In no way shape or form am I consulting a witch doctor for my health problems.

3.) Person may seek advice from a trusted older female.

Just cause she old don't mean she knows all!

4.) High fat foods consumed. Prefers fried foods.

Okay, I can tell you right now that doesn't describe Black people. Mostly everyone consumes high fat fried foods. How you think McDonalds stays in business. That case everybody is somewhat Black.

5.) Personal touch among friends and relatives.

I don't mind touch just as long as its not weird. I had a doctor once who never touched his patients, I heard this from word of mouth and experience, it felt awkward cause it was as if he were saying I might give him germs.

6.) Taking the day as it comes.

Now I admit I do be late for some things, but it is definitely not because of my culture. Its because I like sleeping late, and I'm just not a morning person. How dare my school demand I be on time for clinicals. Don't they know I am programmed as a Black person to take the day as it comes :roll

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