Culturally Competent Care for Mexican-Americans
Terry A. Stevens
Grand Canyon University: NUR 502- Theoretical Foundations for Nursing Roles and Practice
January 13, 2016
Culturally Competent Care for Mexican-Americans
For centuries nursing has been a dynamic, this is constantly evolving and adapting in response to a wide range of stimuli. A recent circumstance that has influenced nursing considerably is the consumer mandate for culturally competent care in an increasingly diverse, multicultural society. Although Euro-American culture has reign superior in the United States, the nation has shifted to a conviction where various ethnic, racial, and religious groups thrive in a single ...view middle of the document...
, Grassley, J. & Restrepo, E., 2006). Becoming culturally competent has been described as a process where a nurse continually strives to effectively deliver care within the cultural context of an individual, family, or community by seeking cultural awareness, knowledge, understanding and skills (Eggenberger, S., Grassley, J. & Restrepo, E., 2006). Culture has a crucial influence on the development of self identity and personality on an individual. It consists of norms and values that help govern a person’s thoughts, feelings, and actions. Acknowledging and comprehending the importance of culture and its supplements supply guidance for nurses when caring for an individual, family, or community. In 1991, registered nurses Joyce Giger and Ruth Davidhizar presented the Transcultural Assessment Model, which is a useful assessment tool in analyzing cultural differences and their effects on health and behavior. This tool helps nurses provide culturally competent care.
Results from Transcultural Assessment Model specifically in regards to the Mexican-American patient, suggest that nurses must develop a trusting bond based on the understanding of the cultural existence of social organization and environmental control. This awareness is known as being at the heart of cultural competence (Eggenberger, S., Grassley, J. & Restrepo, E., 2006). Social organization is the structure of a culture and displayed patterns of relationships between individuals in a particular group. It has been empirically proven that family is a significant social organization system in the Mexican-American culture (Eggenberger, S., Grassley, J. & Restrepo, E., 2006). In Mexican-American culture, family serves as the foundation of the society. Mexican-American families stress unity and loyalty among family members. Mexican-American families tend to form strong ties among nuclear and extended family members. They receive support from each other during daily situations and occasional calamities. Although strong family ties provide many benefits, substantial family support may result in the lack of searching for professional health care outside of the family. Mexican-American families often depend on the daughters for aid when enduring health complications.
The male in Mexican-American culture is often recognized as the head of the household. The female is often recognized as the glue that keeps the family together and teaches the young of the norms and values of the culture. A common complication that is linked to the role of male superiority and submissive behavior by the female in Mexican-American culture is family violence, a significant concern for nurses. However, recent studies have shown that more Mexican-American women are acquiring the position as the authority in the family. The role of the male is to be the provider and judge in decision-making. The role of the female is to nurture and maintain the health and well-being of the children.
Environmental control...
