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Culture is in every aspect of life. Imagine living in a place where few people speak your language. Then add hypertension, diabetes, or any other health problem into the mix. Having to be treated for any health problem where people are unaware or insensitive to your culture can be very stressful and anxious. It can immediately have a negative effect on the patient-provider relationship. In the article "Cultural Competence and the Hispanic Population" by Darlene Hicks, a portion of Hispanic culture is learned. This is vital information for any healthcare provider, especially the nurse.
A nurse ultimately implements the plan of care and makes sure the patient is safe. According to the American Nurses Association (ANA, 2010), "nurses should practice with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity, worth and uniqueness of every individual". Thus, the nurse should be aware of any cultural barrier in the nurse-patient relationship.
A person's cultural identity are based upon gender, age, sexual orientation, language, religion and social class. "Culturally competent nurses must not only understand the culture of the patient, but also develop awareness of their own cultures" (Collins, Decker, & Esquibel, 2006). If a nurse is culturally sensitive, she has the "ability to adjust her perceptions, behaviors, and practice style to meet the needs of patients from different ethnic groups" (Foronda, 2008). Cultural sensitivity is gained through cultural competence.
In this particular article, the Hispanic culture is brought to light. "McHenry (2007) reported the Hispanic community is the fastest growing minority population in the United States" (Hicks, 2012). Among the Hispanic culture are rapidly growing health problems, with some leading health issues including heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes. Some other risk factors are chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, obesity and liver disease.
In the Hispanic culture, the family is...