N109: Foundations in Nursing Practice

N109: Foundations in Nursing Practice Study Guide • Cultural blindness: This is the incapacity to comprehend how specific situations may be seen by individuals belonging to another culture due to a strict alignment with the viewpoints, outlooks, and morals of one's own society or culture. • Transcultural nursing: This guides nurses in providing culturally sensitive care to patients. A theory regarding transcultural nursing was developed by Madeleine Leininger and is discussed later in this unit. • Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Healthcare (CLAS): This is a national standard intended to advance health equity, improve quality, and help eliminate healthcare disparities by establishing a blueprint for organizations to deliver effective, understandable, and respectful services at every point of patient contact. 6.2 Health and Culture An individual’s culture has a profound effect on their beliefs about health, illness, the healthcare system, and how illness is cured. Each culture may have a specific definition of what is healthy and anything that deviates from that definition is considered unhealthy. These differences in cultural understanding may lead individuals to ignore symptoms or avoid seeking help. In cultures where disease is believed to be of supernatural origin, the individual may see symptoms as being the result of a curse or some disharmony in the spiritual world. In cultures with these beliefs, the sick individual might seek a cure through prayer, intervention of a spiritual leader, or herbal remedies common in the culture. These alternative practices may be the initial line of defense and the individual may be very ill before seeking care through the traditional Western health system. When possible, the nurse should allow the individual to integrate their alternative practices within the healthcare system. The nurse must always be aware of the dangers of stereotyping any group; however, there are some common health beliefs, for which the nurse should understand and assess. • African Americans: There is a strong belief in the healing power of plants and herbs. Illness may be considered punishment for sins committed. In many African cultures the concept of the “evil eye” is part of the belief systems of some people. It is believed that a person can give someone else an evil eye either purposefully or inadvertently by directing comments of praise at that person, thereby causing harm or illness to befall them. • Hispanic Americans and Latino/as: Some Hispanic people believe that disease is caused by an imbalance between hot and cold principles. Health is maintained by avoiding exposure to extreme temperatures and by consuming appropriate foods and beverages. Traditional medicine in most Hispanic countries has an extensive list of folk remedies. • Native Americans: Some Native Americans/American Indian/Alaska Natives believe that healing results from sacred ceremonies that rely on having visions and using plants and objects that may be symbolic of the individual, the illness, or the treatment. Traditional Navajo medicine includes chanting, prayer, sand painting, dancing, and herbs. Many Native American tribes turn to the sweat lodge to cure a variety of physical and emotional ills. • Asian Americans: Chinese medicine is a complex and well-established therapeutic tradition that uses acupuncture, acupressure, and herbs, often in combination with dietary therapy, Western medicine, and supernatural healing. Clients may be reluctant to say that they have been using these approaches to treat their illness, fearing the disapproval of Western healthcare providers. Chinese and Cambodian medicine classifies food, illness, and

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