Running head: CARING FOR THE HISPANIC CULTURE POPULATION

Caring for the Hispanic Culture Population Nathalie Conti Grand Canyon University: NUR 502 May 29, 2012

CARING FOR THE HISPANIC CULTURE POPULATION Caring for the Hispanic Culture Population Nursing has conveyed the intention of being a culturally diverse vocation, the MexicanAmerican population representing a cultural entity unto itself. In healthcare settings, it is essential that cultural awareness, compassion, and aptitude behaviors are applied since notions such as health, sickness, suffering, and care have somewhat different meanings in minority cultures. Cultural competence of trained nurses is especially important as it enhances quality of patient care when working with people of different heritages. This awareness empowers nurses

to accurately assess, plan, and implement nursing interventions appropriate to meeting the needs of these patients (Barker, 2009). The aim of this paper is to describe the impact cultural diversity has on nursing, using as a representative example the Mexican-American cultural phenomena, one of the fastest-evolving minority cultures residing in the United States, and presently its principle Hispanic group (Eggenberger, Grassley, & Restrepo, 2006). The intent in using this example is to foster a generalized understanding of cultural impact to be used as a guide for nursing care. Summary of Article The article by Padilla and Villalobos (2007) discusses the cultural experiences of the Mexican-American population with an emphasis on family and the social significance of health promotion. First, the authors illustrate the perception that family is the expressive unit of social organizational structure in the Mexican-American culture. Loyalty between each family member is expected, stressed from childhood and followed all the way through adulthood, including grandparents and godparents. Elders are respected and cared for, and children highly valued. Second, while the male is frequently seen as the power figure, the woman is the strength keeping the family well-balanced and imparting cultural wisdom. In America, blurring of these roles has

CARING FOR THE HISPANIC CULTURE POPULATION begun primarily due to acculturation and the isolation of family members, a result of financial hardships. Third, diet is usually high in corn tortillas, rice and processed foods, and lifestyle often lacking in exercise, placing this cultural group at higher risk for medical disorders such as

diabetes, hypertension and obesity. Over-consumption of alcoholic beverages also creates health concerns. Forth, Mexican-Americans are in large Catholics, attending church frequently and are inspired to invoke religious means to resolve their woes. Their belief is that Gods force greatly influence ones health as reward or punishment for ones feelings or actions. Fifth, they may consult folk healers or spiritualists, especially if they lack medical insurance. The use of herbal medicine (e.g., mint tea, chamomile) as an alternative to traditional medical treatment is common although generally reticent to communicate their viewpoint, preferring to avoid conflict with the traditional medical community. Finally, when a family member is close to death, MexicanAmericans religious beliefs influence their perceptions. Some individuals trust that the soul gets misplaced in the hospital; others require a reassuring environment, possibly a private room, and time to deal with the loss. Pastors or chaplains are often requested to bless the afflicted. The article stresses that the main cultural dissimilarities that should be taken into consideration when administering direct patient care are language, moral and ethical values, and up-to-date practices within the culture. By gaining a clear understanding of the MexicanAmerican culture, professional nurses initiate trust, develop patient-centered relationships, decide healthcare resources, and foster care acceptable and satisfactory to persons of this culture. Application to Practice In order to deliver proper nursing care to the Mexican-American community, nurses need to be culturally competent and aware of their own personal cultural biases (Barker, 2009). Individuals who are unable to reflect on their own thoughts may create cultural deception

CARING FOR THE HISPANIC CULTURE POPULATION wherein their value system is unconsciously imposed on others (Seright, 2007). By addressing these matters in a systematic way, nurses are able to put their best foot forward. A cultural assessment must be completed to assist in understanding different perspectives of health, illness and interventions in appropriate contexts. Patients beliefs and personal values must be considered and how these influence providing care carefully evaluated. A trained Spanish medical interpreter should be used when required for establishing communications with the patient and family members. Using children as interpreters is discouraged as it may result in withheld information, thus alter medical care. The interpreter should be chosen appropriately (same sex and language) and be independently objective and confidential (Das, 2009). Ondash (2008) gives the example of a 911 call going awry when a Hispanic patient was assessed by the paramedics with the assistance of an untrained interpreter. The patient used the word intoxicado to convey that she felt dizzy, but the word was interpreted as intoxicated. The medical team initiated treatment for inebriation without realizing that, in fact, the patient was having a stroke. Now paraplegic, her family, understandably upset, sued the hospital for improper care. According to Barker (2009), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services established recommendations expressing the need for language support, especially the patients right to an interpreter at no charge to assure that their medical needs are addressed correctly. According to Ray (2012), involving the entire family in the patients medical care is crucial to the recovery. Often, a large room may need to be provided to accommodate family size. Healthcare professionals must provide a relaxing environment so that patients and families may feel comfortable to share personal information during the medical assessment (Barker, 2009). As comfort is a basic human need and an indispensable element of holistic, culturally congruent human care, promoting the process of healing, it is essential that nurses instruct the

CARING FOR THE HISPANIC CULTURE POPULATION

patient on the necessity to control pain and explain the possible consequences that can occur. For example, Mexican-American patients experience pain in a stoic manner, viewing it as something that is acceptable and to be endured. Some individuals see pain as a punishment for miss deeds and believe that enduring it will prove that they have personal strength (Ray, 2012). Although pain medication is taken willingly, the fear of addiction is constantly existent and individuals require thorough education and support (Eggenberger et al., 2006). Providing adequate education to patients and family may be the biggest challenge to overcome as it is crucial for recovery. Individualized care plans may be appropriate for this population to achieve the best possible outcomes. Conclusion The Mexican-American population represents a cultural entity unto itself, one of many which must be serviced by the nursing profession. As a socially varied vocation, nursing is overcoming cultural barriers through education; learning to become self-aware of its present limitations and adapting to unfamiliar paradigms. When interpretation is needed, mannerisms must convey cultural respect to the patient as well as preserve medical accuracy so as to neither alienate family nor lead healthcare professionals to misdiagnose. Hodge (2009) stated that as long as healthcare professionals are mindful of the sensitivity and importance of effective crosscultural communication, they have already won half the battle. Cultural competence is a skill particularly vital for trained nurses as it allows them to promote quality of patient care across diverse cultural backgrounds. In this way, the practice of modern medicine may become integrated into cultural traditions, forming a more perfect union, promoting improved patient outcomes.

CARING FOR THE HISPANIC CULTURE POPULATION References Barker, A. M. (2009). Advanced Practice Nursing: Essential knowledge for the profession (1 ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett. Das, A. (2009). Medical interpreters. Retrieved from careers.bmj.com/careers/advice/viewarticle.html?id=20000223 Eggenberger, S. K., Grassley, J., & Restrepo, E. (2006). Culturally competent nursing care for families: Listening to the voices of Mexican-American women. The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 11(3). doi:10.3912/OJIN.Vol11No03PPT01 Hodge, S. (2009). Executive cultural coaching: Linking expatriate assignment with career management. Retrieved from http://sheidahodge.com/CoachingCareerManagement9092.html Ondash, E. (2008). Overcoming language barriers faced in health care. NurseZone. Retrieved from nursezone.com/Nursing-News-Events/more-features.aspx?ID=18135 Padilla, Y. C., & Villalobos, G. (2007). Cultural responses to health among Mexican American women and their families. Family Community Health, 30(1S), S24-S33. Retrieved from www.nursingcenter.com/library/JournalArticle.asp?Article_ID=691987 Ray, L. (2012). How to take care of the elderly in Mexican-American families. Retrieved from www.ehow.com/how_4866946_care-elderly-mexican-families.html Seright, T. (2007). Perspectives of registered nurse cultural competence in a rural state. Online Journal of Rural Nursing and Health Care, 7, 57-69. Retrieved from www.rno.org/journal/index.php/online-journal/article/viewFile/9/181