ANP grad student needs help

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Hello Everyone.

I am a current adult NP student and in a cultural diversity class. I have a project coming up and need some help, info and/or direction for info. The project involves the cultural values of prisoners. With that being said, the goal is to provide "culturally sensitive nursing care". The instructor is looking for is not so much how is health care delivered to this particular culture, but rather what values (or things that this population hold important) do they have and how does this impact their healthcare options, in addition to this, how can we as future APN's help provide more competent care based on our new knowledge of their culture.

All thoughts and suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Cynthia

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Respect -- ironic, isn't it?

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The irony of respect towards a culture is climbing out of the box you are in and educating yourself, without bias, as if you were a clean slate. Respect is only one concept. You have to know what you are respecting and make sure that you and them are on the same page. For instance, we learned that the Japanese, out of respect to the talker, will be quiet and only say "yes". As the talker, you may think that they are saying yes that they are understanding what you are saying. But the reality is that they are saying yes because they are physically hearing you speak. If you were giving discharge instructions for example, you might think that they understand the instructions and what to do. Reality, they have no clue what your telling them, but they hear you so they say yes. If you knew this about their culture,in advance, you could tailor your teaching with their needs. You are planning care around their culture. So, it's not that simple or ironic.

Thanks for taking the time to read and post.

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My inmates come to me because they call me "the real nurse." Nevertheless, it is ironic that respect is so important to them. It is also easy to understand why. They have never received any genuine respect. Thus they define respect in ways peculiar to inmates.

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My inmates come to me because they call me "the real nurse." Nevertheless, it is ironic that respect is so important to them. It is also easy to understand why. They have never received any genuine respect. Thus they define respect in ways peculiar to inmates.

The inmate, who has never received any genuine respect, defines respect how? This is what I am trying to get at. :idea:

As "the real nurse", how do you alter your care in knowing that they have never received respect?

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Genuine respect is respect given for admirable character, speech, actions and accomplishments. Not out of fear and intimidation and/or manipulation and deceit.

I do not alter my care. That's kind of the point. I treat inmate patients like other patients --- because I have self-respect. They are my patients. I am their nurse. If they are manipulating, I tell them why they are not going to get what they are after. If they need something, I do my best to provide care within my scope of practice.

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Interesting insight !! Thanks for the info, it was helpful.

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Specializes in Virtually every speciality.

Still working on that thesis?. I/m's will do what ever they haveto to cover up . In general, I/m's will hide the fact that there has been any kind of conflict going on even if it involves an injury.They have a code which will not allow them to"squeel" on each other. Fact.

An inmate will say, I need a bandaid. "For what?". I have a sore on my foot.

"Where is it, show me". Well it's not really on my foot, it's on my groin and I don't want to show it to you. "Oh, officer, this inmate needs a little private time over in that corner with your back to us"......Well, actually, it's my cell partner that needs the bandaid, he has a cut foot...."Oh officer, you need to check on this i/m's cell partner, I think he may be banged up a bit..... FACT: the I/m's cell partner was beaten with a lock in a sock and has an evulsion wound over the eyebrow.......See why it pays to keep plugging away?.......

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Thanks for the info Sashi. I do see the need for further investigating and sounds like you're a great one. That class is over ( thank God ) and we got an A for our group project on the prisoner patient.

I always welcome insight. Thanks for the reply.

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