When Cultures Collide, Essay Example

Introduction

Patients from different cultures may experience challenges as a result of their personal beliefs regarding matters of health and wellbeing. Therefore, it important to identify these differences and to determine the best possible methods of addressing cultural barriers as best as possible. There are significant challenges when patients have cultural differences that limit their ability to receive adequate healthcare services in a timely manner. This situation is sometimes difficult for healthcare providers to accept, particularly when patients are unable to adopt traditional medical practices as part of their healthcare regimens due to cultural beliefs and values. This process is challenging in many ways for healthcare providers and places them in a difficult situation when working with patients with cultural values that interfere with the practice setting. In some examples, such as acupuncture, this practice may be used in conjunction with traditional medicinal methods in some cultures, while others forego traditional methods in favor of this alternative approach. Therefore, it is important to address the role of cultural beliefs in addressing different types of healthcare practices and what is required to ensure that patient care is not compromised under any circumstances that could influence health and wellbeing when alternative methods are used.

Body

Acupuncture is an alternative method to traditional medicine and related services that supports pain management and a variety of other health conditions that may impact quality of life in different ways. This method is designed to alleviate pain and other symptoms that may arise from a variety of conditions that impact human health. Persons from different cultures may not utilize traditional medicines and treatments for different health conditions. From a cultural point of view, it is likely that acupuncture is aligned with cultural beliefs and expectations that do not support medications and other services that are most commonly used to treat a variety of conditions. It is necessary to understand these differences and to recognize the need for patients to preserve their cultural beliefs within the context of healthcare practice. This is a complex issue, but it supports a unique understanding of the dynamics of patient care and the overall development of new perspectives to improve health and wellbeing.

When health status is compromised for one reason or another, it is important to develop a greater understanding of the needs of patients from different cultures, given that they are sometimes limited from receiving traditional healthcare treatments as a result of these beliefs. Furthermore, they might not understand the true nature of these methods and how they might benefit their lives, due in in part to their lack of understanding of the resources that are available (Schwartz & Drumheller, 2013). Cultural needs often overshadow other priorities; therefore, it is important to address these concerns as part of a larger framework to treat patients with traditional and alternative methods as necessary. There must also be a greater emphasis on understanding the nature of these cultural beliefs in order to make patients feel more comfortable in situations where they are receiving treatment for one or more conditions. The role of nurses in this capacity is to listen to what their patients have to say and to make recommendations that will work in the patient’s favor to improve health and wellbeing (Moran, Abramson, & Moran, 2014).

In some cases, cultural differences may collide with the preferences set forth in traditional medical practice settings; therefore, it is necessary for advanced practice nurses to take the time that is necessary to understand the needs of their patients from a cultural perspective and to recognize the value of these differences in promoting greater role development and engagement in nursing practice towards the expansion of resources for patients from different cultures (Joel, 2013). For practicing nurses, two-way communication plays a critical role in shaping the environment and in supporting asset in the care and treatment of patients across different cultures and population groups (Moran et.al, 2014). It is necessary to for nurse practitioners to develop strategies that will encompass the needs of the patient population and which will engage nurses in the needs of their patients at all times (Moran et.al, 2014).

The concept of culturally competent healthcare, including the use of acupuncture and other tools, represents a necessary approach for some cultures, while serving as a less than viable method in others. Therefore, it is important for nurses to recognize the limitations of the knowledge that is available and to demonstrate the importance of caring for patients with acupuncture and other tools that will support their cultural beliefs (Kirmayer, 2012). It is often difficult for nurses to address culturally competent healthcare because they do not always understand the core values and beliefs of these cultures; therefore, it is necessary for nurses to acquire education that will support these beliefs and enable them to communicate regarding patients with diverse cultural values.

Conclusion

Cultural values and beliefs may disrupt the use of traditional methods in healthcare practice and demonstrate a lack of support for patients when their preferred methods are uncommon or not well understood. For example, the use of acupuncture as a form of pain management is popular in some culture and requires an understanding of the complexities of this process and an ability to balance it with traditional medicinal treatments. Nurses must be culturally competent and be able to compromise under some circumstances in order to prevent further complications for patients. However, patients must also be able to further elaborate regarding why different behaviors are against their beliefs and how alternative methods might be considered.

References

Joel, L. (2013). Advanced practice nursing: Essentials for role development (3rd ed.) Washington, DC: F.A. Davis

Kirmayer, L. (2012). Rethinking cultural competence. Transcultural Psychiatry,49(2), 149.

Moran, R. T., Abramson, N. R., & Moran, S. V. (2014). Managing cultural differences. Routledge.

Schwartz, S., & Drumheller, C. (2013). P151 Culture And Guidelines: How Cultural Differences In Treatment Approach Affect Interpretation Of Literature And Guideline Recommendations. BMJ Quality & Safety, 22(Suppl 1), 61-61.