Please share your knowledge of cultural diversity

[Gator,SN]

Hello to all! I had my very first day as a new GN today and I was reading some material about cultural diversity in nursing and I would like to hear from everyone on this subject. It is very important that nurses be aware of the many differences in this area in order to better understand and deliver the best patient care possible.

I have some knowledge about certain religions, for example, I was raised Catholic and married a Baptist, so in caring for patients I know, for example, that catholics do not believe in abortion. I also have been told in school that Jahovahs Witnesses do not believe in receiving blood products. We were told today that in the Asian culture people do not believe in verbalizing pain. I don't know about this, but if you can contribute, with certainty, any truths about different cultural or religious beliefs that affect the care a patient should receive, then please share it with me. Or, if you have some personal experiences with patients and you were able to support their decisions about their care or help them cope with illness because of your knowledge of their personal beliefs or religious background, please share it.

I am asking this in a serious manner and am in NO WAY trying to start another tired thread based on opinion or disagreement about religion or its practice. I am just asking you to share some insight into cultural practices that will make me a better nurse. Please do not respond in a negative way.

Thank you!

Gator

[SmilingBluEyes]

It is important TO ALWAYS ask, but being aware of cultural practices in general by groups has helped enormously in my practice while I never forgot the common-sense practice of asking first how best I can meet their needs. Awareness opens eyes, I say, to begin with. Being aware helps me to know WHAT questions to ask in the FIRST place.

[amk1964]

I would just like to say that the text books aren't always accurate; you have to ask, because within cultures there is wide diversity. I live in a 90% Mexican-American community and the things I learned in nursing school weren't correct. Its taken me nearly my whole 9 years here to begin to have an understanding.

Good luck in your new job. Be humble, keep your ears and eyes open, and mostly keep your mouth shut unless you're asking questions!