Cultural issues in nursing

Rep · Oct 1, 2004

Here in the Philippines, nursing is quite different. We have a conservative society so it means one has to remember gender issues and things that are not spoken very much on public. If one has to conduct health teachings to a patients, example, family planning, one has to know if the patient is a practicing Catholic otherwise the nurse wont get the cooperation of the patient.

In work, we don't do assessment although we were taught to do that in school. Its the doctors who do that. We can start IV, insert urinary catheters but can not do NGT insertion. Its the job of the doctors. Bedside nursing is taught in school but when one is already an RN this will be delegated to midwives or orderlies (equivalent to cna). I am sorry I can not give you more regarding Philippine nursing since I have stop working as a nurse a long time ago.

ollikristiina · Oct 1, 2004

Here in the Philippines, nursing is quite different. We have a conservative society so it means one has to remember gender issues and things that are not spoken very much on public. If one has to conduct health teachings to a patients, example, family planning, one has to know if the patient is a practicing Catholic otherwise the nurse wont get the cooperation of the patient.
In work, we don't do assessment although we were taught to do that in school. Its the doctors who do that. We can start IV, insert urinary catheters but can not do NGT insertion. Its the job of the doctors. Bedside nursing is taught in school but when one is already an RN this will be delegated to midwives or orderlies (equivalent to cna). I am sorry I can not give you more regarding Philippine nursing since I have stop working as a nurse a long time ago.

Thank you for your reply. This was a nice answer. In Sweden and Finland nurses don't have to think about gender. Eaventhough we are equal, it happends that a male nurse or doctor will be listened too more than a female nurse or doctor. Also age can sometimes be an obstacle. I'm 26 but I look younger and some times a hear from other staff members and patients "little girl you are so young that you don't know". This kinds of issues can be different indifferent countries or eaven different wards in one hospital.

Other wise it seems like we have the same responsabillities in workinglife as you have in Fillipines. But again it can vary in different wards.

redheadRN · Oct 2, 2004

Here in the U.S. I still have problems with ageism. I, too, am 26, and many older patients will wait until an older nurse comes in to ask any questions. So I usually will joke with them and say "Do you have any questions? I know I look young, but I 'm really very smart!" with a smile. Most of them will smile and feel more at ease. Good luck!

talaxandra · Oct 2, 2004

Australia in general is very multicultural, and I practice in the most ethnically diverse city, Melbourne, so we all have to be aware that accepted practices vary - female Muslim patients can't be examined by male staff, Jewish patients have special post-mortem care, Middle Eastern men are inclined to equate nurses with maids, Aboriginal patients defer decision-making to tribal Elders, Mediteranian families like to visit en massse, Catholic patients need Last Rites (which needs to be considered before 2:30 am if possible... I really enjoy striving to meet (and anticipate) the varying needs.

I haven't found age to be too much of an issue - I look younger than I am (unless I'm running late to the colourist - curse premature greying!) but I have an authoritarian air. I'm surprised so many people still equate youth with ignorance - I agree that there is wisdom in age, but there are also a lot of old idiots, and the converse is also true.

mattsmom81 · Oct 2, 2004

I strive to be sensitive to the culture of my patient. More and more I am seeing a sense of entitlement and demand in this regard, which troubles me. While nurses DO owe it to our patients to be sensitive to a point, it is becoming an excessive burden to 'know' and respond correctly to every culture and every need out there. Recently I had an inservice of 4 hrs on this and my mind was a blur...LOL!

With the understaffing and 'do more with less' attitude in healthcare in the US, I find it increasingly stressful to be expected to prioritize with PC issues such as cultural needs when I am unable to find time to meet the most basic needs of ALL my patients. Remember Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs...well, seems like what is 'PC' usurps this.

JMHO. Anybody else feel similarly?

Jo Anne -OLD · Oct 2, 2004

I strive to be sensitive to the culture of my patient. More and more I am seeing a sense of entitlement and demand in this regard, which troubles me. While nurses DO owe it to our patients to be sensitive to a point, it is becoming an excessive burden to 'know' and respond correctly to every culture and every need out there. Recently I had an inservice of 4 hrs on this and my mind was a blur...LOL!
With the understaffing and 'do more with less' attitude in healthcare in the US, I find it increasingly stressful to be expected to prioritize with PC issues such as cultural needs when I am unable to find time to meet the most basic needs of ALL my patients. Remember Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs...well, seems like what is 'PC' usurps this.
JMHO. Anybody else feel similarly?

Me too. It is difficult to remember all the beliefs,practices etc.

I just do my best and treat others the way I want to be treated.

:)

ianyeh · Oct 2, 2004

In Canada, it's multicultural country, so you deal with all cultures basically.

fergus51 · Oct 3, 2004

I've found it is usually enough to simply ask patients if there are any specific cultural or religious needs for them. I worked L&D & NICU in very multicultural cities and there was no way I could ever hope to memorize every cultural tidbit. Plus, there is diversity among cultures anyways. I'm Canadian and I don't like maple syrup, so I'm sure not all members of other cultures have the same beliefs;) I do remember that 4 was bad luck to our Chinese moms, so we would not put them in room 4. 8 was good luck, so we'd give them first crack at that:). One hospital I was in paid a lot of attention to diet as well since their main populations were Jewish and Muslim, so forget about having bacon on your sandwich.

aileenve, ASN, RN · Oct 3, 2004

Hi here in the USA we have all cultures, I agree with MattsMom, there is a sense of entitlement and some patients think we are maids, waitresses, and hookers yes, I said hookers! Most of us do as much as we can to accomadate a persons culture but sometimes we are just lucky we can prepare them for tests, give meds, treatments and assess their health needs along with everyone else we are working for interns, CNM's, etc.