Nursing 401

Description of
cultural group (9)

Culture
Origin
Current
population in
US
Current
population in
your community
Cultural beliefs
related to
communication (10)
(eye contact, space &
distance issues, time &
punctuality, gender
communications)

Cultural Exploration Table

Hispanic Culture
Origin Mexico
According to U.S. Census Bureau population estimates as of July 1,2013, there are roughly 54 million
Hispanics living in the United States. (cdc.gov website, 2015)
Hispanic population of Virginia Beach is 24,301 based on 2010 data, out of all the Hispanic population
8,528 are Mexican.(usa.com website, 2015)

In the Hispanic culture they have a restraint of feelings, particularly anger and frustration.
They use limited verbal expressions toward authority figures.
They have a preference for closer personal space, avoid eye contact when listening or speaking to authority
figures.
Relaxed about time and punctuality; and immediate short-term goals.
They are collective with group identity; interdependence; cooperative rather than competitive; and they place
emphasis on interpersonal relations. (coedu.usf.edu website, n.d., para. 4)

How is health
maintained? (7)

Dietary
restrictions,
health rituals, etc

Health is perceived in different ways in the Hispanic community. They see health as a reward
for good behavior and illness can sometimes be a punishment of wrongdoing. (cwru.edu
website, 2007)
For healing they may use folk medicine and is practiced by curanderos which use herbs/plants
to heal illness or santeros that use the power of the saints to heal illness. (cwru.edu website,
2007)
During the postpartum period cold foods are not consumed it is believed that this will help to
empty the uterus. During the menstrual period and during the postpartum period woman avoid

spicy and acidic foods believing that this will increase flow or cramps. Also some may suffer
from lactose intolerance. (Hispanic Culture website, n.d., section 4)

What causes ill

health? (5)

Health beliefs/
practices specific to
pregnancy, the
birthing process,
and childrearing

Illness can sometimes be a punishment of wrongdoing. Other potential causes imbalances

between hot and cold (hot illnesses should be treated with cold remedies and vice versa),
supernatural triggers, and envy. A supernatural cause can come from outside the body known
as mal de ojo which is caused by excessive admiration. (cwru.edu website, 2007)

Who attends the

birth? (3)

Traditionally women birth at home and only the midwife is present. Female family members are
support system during labor but the father may be present during birth. In some Mexican
hospitals, only the doctor and RN are allowed in room. (Hispanic Cultural Beliefs and Practices
website, n.d.)

Is circumcision
done? If so, what
rituals are
associated with
it? (3)

Circumcision is acceptable in hispanic cultures and most fall under the catholic religion.
Although they are not against circumcision the hispanic culture is one of the lowest group for
circumcision and a large part is high poverty rates, low in-come families, and less education
about circumcision. (Acceptability of Neonatal circumcision by Hispanics, 2013)

Is birth control
practiced and if it
is what are the
birth control
practices? (3)

In the Hispanic culture they use their own forms of birth control which include getting up right
away to drink a glass of water, clean yourself, and suck a lime. Taking different herbs, drinking
tea to prevent pregnancy, and drinking different herbs to prevent pregnancy. (Hispanic culture

website, 2010)

Are there

customs
associated with
the postpartum
period for the
mother or the
infant? (3)

Is breastfeeding
supported in the
culture? (3)

What are the

practices
regarding
immunizations?
(3)

New mothers drink water or tea preferably warm or hot for the first month to 40 days,
they believe this helps them heal. (Hispanic Cultural Beliefs and Practices website, n.d.)
They believe watery foods promote more breast milk like chicken soup, rice, and milk.
(Hispanic Cultural Beliefs and Practices website, n.d.)
It is traditional for the family to do housework and clean the infant for at least a week
after delivery. (Hispanic Cultural Beliefs and Practices website, n.d.)
Touching cold water is not allowed because it is believed to cease milk production.
(Hispanic Cultural Beliefs and Practices website, n.d.)
It is believed that the freshest air is best for the baby and perfumes and scented cleaning
agents should not be used on the home with baby. (Hispanic Cultural Views on
pregnancy, n.d.)

Yes breastfeeding is supported in this culture and some mothers believe that after several
months of breastfeeding that the nutritional value of their breast milk declines and that drinking
a small amount of beer daily can help produce levadura a stronger more healthy milk.
(Hispanic Cultural Views on pregnancy, n.d.)

Neither prevention nor promotion is valued in Hispanic culture. (Belief and Traditions that
impact the Latino Healthcare, n.d., figure 57)

Health beliefs/ practices

specific to end of life &
death rituals (5)

What are the

practices for
caring for the
dying and the
dead?
If any, what are
the funeral
practices of the
culture?

What are the

mourning
practices of the
culture? (5)

Physiological variations
within the culture which
affects treatment or
response to treatment

Are there
variations within
the culture based
upon geography?

(3)

The family, except for pregnant woman, is significantly involved in the care of a family
member who is dying.
Autopsies and organ donations are usually resisted.
Public expression of grief is expected. (Belief and Traditions that impact the Latino
Healthcare, n.d.)
The family decides on Clothing and hair through pictures.
They often have an infant that has passed be baptized in fear that the infant may not be
accepted into heaven.
The novena or praying of the rosary is usually held the night before the funeral and
burial and is to care on for nine nights.
For the funeral, a mass celebration of the loved ones life is held, followed by a graveside
burial, and later a reception is held to share memories and usually centered around a
meal. (Hispanic Cultural Beliefs Surrounding Death, 2012)

Many Hispanics believe that after death, there is a continued relationship with the
deceased through prayer and graveside visits. (Hispanic Cultural Beliefs Surrounding
Death, 2012)
A wake is usually held to share memories of the loved one that has pasted and is
usually centered around a meal. (Hispanic Cultural Beliefs Surrounding Death, 2012)

Yes there are several variation to the Hispanic culture, they are wide spread across several
countries which include Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican
Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Paraguay, Puerto
Rico, El Salvador, Spain, Uruguay, and Venezuela. (diocesephoenix.org, n.d.)
There is very little common among many of the subgroups. (diocesephoenix.org, n.d.)

Are there genetic

predispositions to
any diseases?

(5)

No genetic disorders noted but there are many common heath conditions noted for
Hispanic culture.
Common health conditions include HTN, high cholesterol, obesity in woman; diabetes,
heart disease, and cancer are the most prevalent. (Hispanic Culture website, n.d.)

Are there
environmental
factors resulting
in physiological
variations? (3)

Higher poverty rates, less education, less opportunity for work, and worse access to
health care affect the Hispanic culture. They are also one of the fasting growing
populations due to high fertility rates and low usage of birth control methods.
(Socioeconomic, Cultural, and Behavioral Factors affecting Hispanic Health Outcomes
website, 2007)

Role of nursing within

the culture

Hispanic culture is traditionally very modest. In a birthing situation, male nurses may not
be well accepted and mothers may be hesitant to accept perineal interventions.
RNs and doctors are very respected in Hispanic culture and are expected to be
competent and knowledgeable on all topics. Their advice and directions will almost
always be followed strictly. (Hispanic Cultural Views on pregnancy, n.d.)

How are nurses

valued, viewed /
utilized? (5)

Are there
restrictions
related to the
practice of
nursing? (5)

Based on the information

provided in this table, how
would you provide
culturally sensitive
nursing care to a patient
from this culture? Be
specific (10)

I would yes there are restrictions. Depending on what your patients beliefs and values
are, depend on how you are able to care for your patient. In most of the Hispanic culture
there is a language barrier and most are very modest when it comes to illness and do not
want pain medication or any other drugs depending on their illness. They also may see
the hospital and medical doctors as a last resort for their illness.

I have had the experience of taking care of a laboring Hispanic woman and there were a lot of
challenges involved. I first had to overcome a language barrier and use the language line at my
hospital in order to communicate what I needed signed for consents as well as discuss
treatment with her and her labor plan. I also was lucky enough that her husband was there with
her and could help me to understand what she needed during labor and what she was feeling.

Labor is fast moving when you come to the final stage of getting the baby out and having that
help was much needed. I knew that she did not want and pain medication, no IV fluids, and no
males in the room while she was laboring. Lucky for me my doctor for the day was female. I
gave her the respect that she needed and made sure that when I checked her cervix that I kept
her completely covered, as well as when she was delivering, which is not an easy thing to do
but it was what she wanted and was part of her culture and I respected that as well as everyone
else that came into the room. My patient also refused to have the Pitocin after birth to help
contract her uterus back down due to the fact that she did not want any cool liquids or
medications in her body. It was part of her healing process and for the safety of her baby, since
she would be breastfeeding. She did not want her baby exposed to any drugs. I know that the
Pitocin would not affect her breastfeeding but for her culture and beliefs, the medical staff did
as she wished. I did explain to her that I would have to massage her fundus and if it was
medically necessary then we would have to give her fluids. She agreed that she would only get
them if she had to have them for here safety. Her husband was the only one that could touch
her during delivery and I respected all of her wishes. I made sure that I made eye contact with
her, even though she would love away when talking to me, I understood that this was part of
her culture. The language barrier was the most challenging thing that I had to overcome with
her but thanks to the language line and her husband we made it through. I was also grateful
that I had a doctor that was bilingual and spoke Spanish and was able to tell her what they
needed during delivery as well.
Post to group discussion
area (5)
Spelling, punctuation,
grammar, organization,
reference page included
(5)
Total: 100

Grade=
Comments:

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Honor Code _____Ashley Conner Stone_______ Students electronic signature

References
Acceptability of Neonatal circumcision by Hispanics. (2013). www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Belief and Traditions that impact the Latino Healthcare. (n.d.).
www.medschool.lsuhsc.edu/physiology/docs/Belief%20and%20Traditions%20that%impact%20the
%20Latino%20Healthcare.pdf
Hispanic Cultural Beliefs Surrounding Death. (2012).
https://camillepsy305.wordpress.com/2012/04/19/hispanic-cultural-beliefs-surrounding-death/
Hispanic Cultural Beliefs and Practices website. (n.d.). www.hawaii.edu/nursing/RNHispanic11.html
Hispanic Cultural Views on pregnancy. (n.d.). www.hawaii.hawaii.edu/nursing/RNHispanic10.html
Hispanic Culture website. (n.d.).
app1.unmc.edu/Nursing/wchdata/course_content/nrsg833/online_topics/cultural/section2.htm
Hispanic culture website. (2010). https://nursing322sp10.wordpress.com/hispanic-culture/
Socioeconomic, Cultural, and Behavioral Factors affecting Hispanic Health Outcomes website. (2007).
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC178361/
cdc.gov website. (2015). cdc.gov/minorityhealth/populations/REMp/hispanic/html
coedu.usf.edu website. (n.d.). www.coedu.usf.edu/zalaquett/hoy/culture.html
cwru.edu website. (2007). www.cwru.edu/med/epidbio/mphp439/hispanic_Healthcare.pdf

diocesephoenix.org. (n.d.). www.diocesephoenix.org

usa.com website. (2015). www.usa.com/virginia-beach-va-population-and-races.htm