NEED HELP!!! Future nursing student has questions for healthcare professionals

[_phaedra_]

I have an assignment for a class that I need to ask healthcare professionals about and I figured maybe someone could help me out, if at all possible. It would be greatly appreciated, you have no idea! I have copied and pasted the questions to this post and in the response (if you choose to) you can just copy and paste them also and just write your answers in below each question. As much or as little help that you can provide for each question would be awesome! Thanks! Here it goes:

Survey Questions Regarding Intercultural Communication in the Health Care Context:

1. Describe intercultural communication as you see it in the health care setting.
   
2. What are the benefits and problems that occur in the increasingly multi-cultural health care environments?
   
3. What is the responsibility of each person in the health care setting for sending accurate messages when he or she communicates with someone from another culture?
   
4. What is the responsibility of the listener/receiver in the health care context, when he or she communicates with someone from another culture?
   
5. How can people in the health care context increase their intercultural communication skills?
   
6. How is conflict usually resolved in interpersonal communication in the workplace
   

[twentytenRN]

Survey Questions Regarding Intercultural Communication in the Health Care Context:

Describe intercultural communication as you see it in the health care setting.

Well, we encounter patients from many different cultures. Sometimes it's a language barrier that requires the use of an interpreter, other times it's just understanding the cultural beliefs about healthcare and procedures, whether it be arising from religious beliefs or just cultural differences.

What are the benefits and problems that occur in the increasingly multi-cultural health care environments?

Benefits? I guess it's interesting to see the differences in the various cultures of the world.

Problems? Language barriers, cultural barriers to care because of their beliefs. Some refuse certain procedures such as blood transfusions that could save their life, but these beliefs must be respected as it is the right of the individual to give consent or withdraw it for any procedure. Some female patients refuse to have males in the room, sometimes this is difficult because of staffing.

What is the responsibility of each person in the health care setting for sending accurate messages when he or she communicates with someone from another culture?

I'll answer this as best I can, it's the responsibililty of the caregiver, whether that's the nurse or the doctor to ensure that the patient understands the care they are receiving. It's important to make sure they understand everything about their procedure(s) including and risks or benefits. Sometimes we use a live interpreter if available, otherwise many hospitals use a Language Line service. You call them on the telephone, tell them what language you need, and that interpreter gets on the line and you ask the questions and hand the phone to the patient and they translate into the patient's native language and vice versa.

What is the responsibility of the listener/receiver in the health care context, when he or she communicates with someone from another culture?

Not sure what this is asking really, but same as above, we use language interpreters.

How can people in the health care context increase their intercultural communication skills?

Many facilities require a course on "culturally competent" care or "culturally sensitive" care. It gives insight into common cultural differences and how these patients view healthcare and give advice for caring for these patients. There are also books and resources for healthcare personnel to refer to when they encounter a patient from a specific culture.

Here is a great book, perhaps you could see if your library has it, it may contain some helpful info for your project.

http://www.amazon.com/Mosbys-Pocket-Cultural-Assessment-Nursing/dp/032304834X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1269025027&sr=8-1

How is conflict usually resolved in interpersonal communication in the workplace

Same as my above answers really. You need to be aware of the cultural differences, respect them, and plan your care according to their beliefs. Get an interpreter if there is a language barrier.

Hope this helps you some.

[_phaedra_]

Thank you very much for your reply. This helps quite a bit. After I get a few responses then I'm able to gather the answers and relate it to questions I have to answer. You rock!!! Have a wonderful day!