Cultural Diversity

[texasmedicrnj]

I have been a nurse now for 16 years and have not really given much thought into Cultural Diversity. I just completed a course doing my MSN-FNP at Texas A&M University Corpus Christi Texas and this has changed my whole view. I think nursing schools should have this class a requirement for ADN's. It is not only taking care of the patient, but the whole family. My research paper was on Native Americans and I have learned so much on beliefs and care they expect.

[Atheos]

i can't worry about being pc.

black, white...sticking to the basics.

leslie

I agree. Call me the brown guy.

[TopazLover, BSN, RN]

I, too, get frustrated by the changes in terminology and meaning for these terms. It is very easy to have a cultural awareness, diversity, competency course or class and find the stereotypes. It is hard to get specifics out in a course when you are not talking about persons, rather you discuss Peoples, as groups.

I believe the term respect is the most important aspect. If you don't understand something about the culture, ask respectfully. If you start a conversation letting the person know you want to learn so you can do a better job it is usually received in a positive way.

One more pet peeve about the subject. Don't participate in humor that puts down any people or cultural or national heritage any more than you participate in jokes about a person's sexual preferences. The old adage of when pointing a finger at someone you point 4 at yourself is true.

Retired, and don't need exlax or other age jokes. Thanks.:wink2:

[Busybee01]

Hello! I too, have to do a paper on Native Americans. Can you tell me where you found your information on their beliefs with regards to healthcare?

Thank You

[PetuniaRN]

I agree. When I was in grad school and we were studying this issue, I was told that among Southern rural Blacks eating dirt is common. Ummmmm....no it isn't. I was raised in as rural of the South as you can get and I never knew anybody who ate dirt. My grandmother lived off a dirt road, there was a cornfield in her backyard and we used to fight for the road with tractors. I know the rural south. There may be SOME Southern rural Blacks somewhere in the south who eat dirt but there they were teaching that it was a common practice. When I protested, I was shot down. What would I know about it?

If you're just respectful and you ask people what they need and want, they will understand. I have taken care of people from all cultures and all races and it's not necessary to know the nuances of each race and culture. It's impossible anyway and it doesn't allow for individual differences. Just be respectful and sincere.

Now, I surely don't think it is common, but in South Carolina it isn't unheard of. But it isn't really dirt--it is a specific type of clay. My coworker had some on her land and sold it in little baggies to people for like $2.00. (she only sold it so they would stop digging up her land on their own!) I tried some and it tasted like....clay. I was disappointed to say the least!!! Many of these people were poor black people, but some were not. A few were white. But I do agree these classes stereotype most cultures into being "backwoods" and "uneducated". I am Mexican, but it is ok to tell me my child is beautiful without you having to touch him/her. I really laughed about that one!!!