Any cultural differences encountered while nursing?

[daisey_may]

I'm sorry if there is a thread about this already, but i searched and i couldn't find anything...

I was recently reading one of my nursing books and I've been really interested in cultural diversity, and as a nurse i know that it will be important to recognize different culture's values and beliefs, but some of them are difficult for me.

For example, a chinese american may nod their head and it may not be because he/she is agreeing with you or understands what you are saying, he/she is just nodding. And native americans may not look you in the eyes as you explain a procedure to them; they are actively listening.

I was wondering if anyone could give me some helpful tips to help with the cultural differences i may encounter. I want to be able to provide the best possible nursing care i can when i become a nurse.

The only one i have so far yet is one concerning hispanic americans (there is large population here). I have noticed that family is VERY important and may be the ones who want to talk to the patient for you, and would rather be the ones helping the pt to the restroom, giving a bath, and feeding. I wasn't offended but it was explained to me that i wasn't doing a poor job, it is just a cultural value.

Any comments/suggestions/tips???

[Multicollinearity, BSN, RN]

I do think making decisions regarding a child's health is different than one partner asking the other if it's ok to have a procedure (especially if it's life saving) done. Parents are jointly responsible for the health of their children. I also realize that couples consult one another on a variety of decisions. That, of course, is very different than having no say at all in your own medical treatment.

All of that being said, I do understand the need to cater to the needs of your individual patients. What I am concerned about is making assumptions based on, well I'm not even sure. I'm assuming that you know the religion of these particular patients because they have told you and not because they look a certain way or have certain names.

On the abuse front, however, my alarm bells are going off because I wonder if the treatment would be the same should your patient be blond Joe and Jane Smith in jeans and T-shirts. I'm not a nurse yet, and I'm not sure what kind of responsibilities nurses have to monitor for abusive behavior. I'm afraid that the abuse of a Muslim woman might more likely be dismissed as "culture" out of a desire to be respectful.

Perhaps you thought we were saying if you see a Muslim couple and the woman has orthodox dress (forgot what it's called!) we automatically ask the husband for permission. I cannot fathom any nurse doing that. I have never seen that. The nurse only asks for permission from the husband if this is what the couple indicates they expect.

[SeekingNur]

Perhaps you thought we were saying if you see a Muslim couple and the woman has orthodox dress (forgot what it's called!) we automatically asked the husband for permission. I cannot fathom any nurse doing that. I have never seen that. The nurse only asks for permission from the husband if this is what the couple indicates they expect.

Yes, that's what I thought you were saying. I understand differently now.

[TazziRN, RN]

Sorry, Mullti I got you and Tazzi mixed up. Yes, it does appear that we agree. The bottom line for me is respecting the wishes of the patient and not making assumptions, it seems that is your bottom line as well. There is little that chaps my hide more than assumptions that because I'm a Muslim woman that I'm not capable of making my own decisions. I have been treated this way more times than I care to admit and it just :angryfire. I hear my friends complain about it ALL the time as well. Excuse my passion on the issue, I didn't mean to flame you.

So......am I understanding that you want to flame me instead?? Please tell me where in my post I said I treat ALL Muslims this way. I said "We have some Muslim pts here....." This area is high in Hispanics and we have a very small Muslim population. The ones who are here prefer that we include their husbands/fathers in their care. I do respect the wishes of my pts when it comes to cultural differences, whether or not I agree with them.

[fergus51]

I do think making decisions regarding a child's health is different than one partner asking the other if it's ok to have a procedure (especially if it's life saving) done. Parents are jointly responsible for the health of their children. I also realize that couples consult one another on a variety of decisions. That, of course, is very different than having no say at all in your own medical treatment.

All of that being said, I do understand the need to cater to the needs of your individual patients. What I am concerned about is making assumptions based on, well I'm not even sure. I'm assuming that you know the religion of these particular patients because they have told you and not because they look a certain way or have certain names.

On the abuse front, however, my alarm bells are going off because I wonder if the treatment would be the same should your patient be blond Joe and Jane Smith in jeans and T-shirts. I'm not a nurse yet, and I'm not sure what kind of responsibilities nurses have to monitor for abusive behavior. I'm afraid that the abuse of a Muslim woman might more likely be dismissed as "culture" out of a desire to be respectful.

Trust me, I don't assume anything based on how a patient looks. I've looked after Muslims who were also Chinese. I've looked after Christians who were also Arab. I've looked after Jewish people who were also African. There are a lot of varieties out there. I can understand you would be sensitive to people stereotyping based on appearance if this has happened to you or people you know before, but that isn't something I do.

Nurses do monitor for domestic violence. Our responsibilities depend on a lot of specifics. When I did L&D, it was specifically covered on admission with the woman when her husband was out of the room. A domineering man can be indicative of domestic violence, but what you might perceive as domineering CAN be just different acceptable cultural behavior and I've seen that among several different religious groups (Christian, Muslim and Jewish). IMO, it isn't about religion as much as it is about culture.