Week 6 Blog - Cultural Health Practices and Beliefs

During week six the topic was cultural health practices and beliefs. The focus was the different views and practices of various faiths. The intent was to demonstrate that culturally aware nurses should try to be aware and respectful of other people’s beliefs while fulfilling their duty to ensure that the best care possible is given to each individual. In the video I watched an interaction between a nurse and a terminally ill Aboriginal lady, where the nurse was trying to determine what could be done to ensure that the lady was as comfortable as possible and spiritually at peace before she passed on.

I was surprised by the amount of people available in a multi-disciplinary team to assist with many different aspects of the patient’s spiritual, emotional, physical, cultural and social well-being. Previously, I had believed that there were only a few people who would contribute to the physical health of the patient, and any emotional benefit was secondary. I now understand that there are many sides to a patient’s comfort that need to be addressed, and many more professionals who are capable of helping in this situation. This includes, but is not limited to: nurses, doctors, dieticians, occupational therapists, Aboriginal Liaison Officers (ALO), social workers, physiotherapists and assorted clergy of different faiths. Another, very important participant is that of family members, as shown in the video. The inclusion of the family members in the multidisciplinary team allows the patient to feel that they have a supporter who has their best interests at heart, and the family members themselves are able to feel that they are active participants who are no longer without a voice. This is especially important when the patient is from a culturally diverse background, as they are traditionally those most disadvantaged in the medical setting (Ahmann & Dokken, 2012).

In my role as a registered nurse, I think what I learned this week will benefit myself and my patients, as I will be willing to ask for help from other members of the multidisciplinary team to assist in a holistic form of healing for my patients.