Unit 1C: The Client in Context: Culture, Spirituality, Family, & Community Flashcards
CULTURE
the totality of socially transmissible behavioral patterns, arts, beliefs, values, customs,
lifeways, and all other products of human work and thought characteristic of a population
or people that guide their worldview and decision making
Subculture
composed of people who have a distinct identity and yet are related to a
larger cultural group
Race
the classification of people according to shared biologic characteristics, genetic marker or feautre.
Acculturation
the process where people adapt to or borrow traits from another culture
Culture shock
a disorder that occurs in response to transition form one cultural setting to another
Stereotyping
assuming all members of a culture or ethnic group alike
Ethoncentrism
the tendency to view your own way of culture as the most desirable, acceptable, or best, and to act in a superior manner towards other cultures
Cultural imposition
the tendency to impose your belief, values, and patterns of behavior on individuals from another culture
Characteristics of culture
Learned, shared, adapted, universal
Culture bound symptom
are culturally-defined conditions which may have no equivalent from a
biomedical/scientific perspective.
CHINESE
- eye contact may be considered disrespectful
- hesitant to ask questions; nodding may not mean agreement
- respect elders & authority figures
- the word “no” may be interpreted as disrespect for others
- touching unacceptable with members of opposite sex
- female clients usually prefer a female care provider
- family involvement in care is preferred
- health beliefs: illness is an imbalance between yin and yang
- yin foods are cold and yang foods are hot
- other health practices:
(1) acupuncture;
(2) medicinal herbs;
(3) ventosa;
(4) acupressure/massage
KOREAN
similar cultural characteristics with the Chinese.
* touching someone’s head is considered disrespectful
* culture bound syndrome: ‘hwa-byung
‘hwa-byung
(a mental illness common in married, middle-aged
women; triggered by life crises)
Chinese: Yin =
yin foods are cold
Chinese: Yang =
yang foods are hot
Chinese health practices
(1) acupuncture;
(2) medicinal herbs;
(3) ventosa;
(4) acupressure/massage
MIDDLE EASTERN
men & women do not shake hands, touch each other or go together in public, unless they
are married or belong to same immediate family
* physically robust person considered healthy
* culture is male-dominated
* HC provider should only be of the same sex
* culture is highly influenced by Islamic religion
* culture bound syndrome: ‘Zar‘
Zar
Middle eastern:
(apathy & withdrawal believed to be caused by spirit
possession)
HISPANIC AMERICAN
tend to be verbally expressive, yet values confidentiality (sensitive to open discussions
regarding sex)
* believes illness to be caused either by the supernatural, as a punishment from God or as an
imbalance between the caliente & frio forces
* health practices: when ill, first seeks advice from older women in family, then goes to
either an “jerbero” (specializes in the use of herbs) or “curandero/curandera” (holistic
healer); if no relief, may go to a physician
* culture bound syndromes: mal ojo (“evil eye”), empacho (“ball of food”), susto (“soul loss”
following extreme fright), caida dela mollera (“depressed fontanelle” due to improper
handling of infant)
“jerbero”
Hispanic american,, (specializes in the use of herbs)
“curandero or curandera”
Hispanic american,, (holistic
healer)
mal ojo
evil eye
empacho
ball of food
susto
soul loss; following extreme fright
caida dela mollera
depressed fontanelle due to improper handling of infant
African american
menstruation is believed to rid the body of dirty and excess blood.
* have rich tradition of herbal remedies.
* culture bound syndromes: voodoo illness (as a result of witchcraft), falling out (sudden
collapse, fainting or blacking out; normal reaction)
Filipino
- need to engage in “small talk” before discussing more serious matters
- respect the elderly & people older than you
- sex & socioeconomic status too personal to discuss
- expressing pain or crying is a sign of weakness (esp. among males)
- cultural beliefs: believes that illness may be caused by evil spirits; may see folk/faith
healers - health practices: flushing (stimulating perspiration), protection (use of amulets, religious
medals, pictures, statues) - culture bound syndromes: ‘panuhot‘, ‘nabuyagan’, ‘pasmo’, ‘kabuhi’, ‘barang
CULTURAL COMPETENCE
refers to an ability to interact effectively with people of different cultures
SPIRITUALITY
-a search for meaning & purpose in life, w/c seeks to understand life’s questions in relation to the sacred
-informal, non-organized, self-reflection & experienced
Spiritual assessment
will help the nurse address client’s spiritual needs to maintain well-being
RELIGION
refers to rituals, practices & experiences involving a search for the sacred (God, Allah) that
are shared within a group
has different views on health and illness
formal, organized, ritualistic & group-oriented
BUDDHISM
- prayer & meditation are used for cleansing & healing
- death is associated with rebirth into another form (reincarnation)
- many are strict vegetarians
HINDUISM
- illness is a result of past & current life actions (karma)
- the RIGHT hand is seen as holy; thus, eating & interventions needs to be with the RIGHT
hand to promote clean healing - many but not all are vegetarians; NO BEEF
ISLAM
- prayer occurs 5 times per day: at dawn/sunrise, noon, afternoon, sunset, & evening
- prayers are done facing the EAST on a rug; it is preceded by washing hands & feet
- ladies are not to view men other than their husbands, naked
- all outcomes in life are seen as predetermined by Allah
- it is important for dying clients to face EAST & die facing EAST
- consumption of pork & alcohol is prohibited
Ramadan
month of fasting; refraining from eating, drinking, having sex & indulging in
anything in excess or ill-natured from dawn until sunset
CHRISTIANITY
- Jesus Christ is the savior & miracles can happen through prayers
- Extreme unction for the dying
- Emergency baptism for dying/dead newborns
JUDAISM (Jews)
- Restrictions related to work on holy days are removed to save a life
- Psalms & last prayer of confession (vidui) are held at bedside
- At death, arms are NOT crossed & any clothing or bandages should be buried with the
person - DIET: NO mixing of meat & dairy; Kosher laws include special slaughter & food handling;
unleavened bread only during Passover week
Religious person of Jews
Rabbi
JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES
PROHIBITS consumption, storage & transfusion of blood
CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS (Mormon) and SEVENTH
DAY ADVENTIST
- PROHIBITS alcohol, coffee, tea and tobacco/smoking
- Sabbath is strictly observedfrom Friday evening (6PM) to Saturday evening (6PM)
- Encourage to enrol in religious friendly schools or their own operated schools
FAMILY
- consists of individuals YOU consider to be your significant others
- role of____ in illness: the family’s beliefs about health, illness and related behaviors,
and the meaning of health and illness have for the _____ tend to affect each member’s
behavior - _____ assessment is IMPORTANT
Community
- geopolitical communities determined by natural boundaries
- organized based on the relationship between people
Holistic nursing
nursing which recognizes the biopsychosocial & spiritual dimensions of persons;
recognizing that individuals are unitary wholes whose lives are intertwined with family,
culture & environment
