Culture Reflection in Nursing

Running head: CULTURE REFLECTION IN NURSING 1
Culture reflection in nursing
Name
Institution

CULTURE REFLECTION IN NURSING 2
Culture reflection in nursing
Cultural competence is very essential in reducing health disparities as well as improving
the access to high quality healthcare which is responsive to the needs of the patients (Douglas et
al., 2014). Efforts to wipe out health incongruities must be educated by the impact of culture on
demeanors, practices, convictions, practices of the minority populaces and general wellbeing
arrangement creators. According to Amiri and Heydari(2017), cultural norms impacts lifestyle
and behaviors associated with risk factors for diseases. Healthcare practitioners should also
therefore deliver healthcare services and interventions that help close the health gap. In my
previous clinical experience in a nursing home, I took care of several clients from the Italian
descent who were the most dominant group. These people preferred the Italian cuisine to other
cuisine and in most cases, some of them declined to eat anything that is not Italian. I learnt that
to Italians, food goes beyond nourishment and they do not take lightly what comes between them
and their food. I also learnt how they value religion and the role it plays in their lives.
To understand their beliefs, I had to first evaluate my beliefs, values and experiences so
as to create the same level of self- awareness that the clients had. I then familiarized myself with
their culture and then involved the clients and their families in the healthcare practices by
empowering them. To incorporate their diets in the healthcare, I learnt some of the Italian cuisine
which helped me create a balance between my nursing practices and cultural practices. This
made the patients to be cooperative thereby creating a trustworthy relationship between me and
the patients. From that point I discovered that I ought not disregard social practices but rather
dependably comprehend the centrality these practices hold for the individuals from that culture.
I also faced challenges when working in a local hospital where I had to attend to a gay
patient. The patient wanted me to address him as a female after he revealed his sexual identity to