NURSING 7: Cultural Safety, Advocacy, and Aboriginal Health Essay

This nursing essay delves into the critical aspects of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, emphasizing cultural safety, collaboration, and self-determination. The essay explores how cultural safety, encompassing social, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being, is central to providing holistic care. It examines the importance of open-mindedness, respect for cultural identities, and advocacy in healthcare service delivery to combat discrimination and promote equitable access to quality care. The student reflects on how these principles inform their interactions with Aboriginal people, their families, and health workers, highlighting the application of advocacy in ensuring patient safety and upholding their rights. The essay further discusses practical strategies to address discrimination within healthcare settings, including community development initiatives and political actions, to foster improved health outcomes and well-being for the Aboriginal community.

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Nursing
By
(Name)
Course
Institution
Date

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Nursing
Introduction
According to the national aboriginal community controlled health organization
(NACCHO), health does not only mean the physical fitness of an individual but also the social,
emotional and cultural well-being of the whole community. In this essay I will discuss how
cultural safety, collaboration and self-determination are the central for ensuring healthy safety
for the aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people. In my reflection, I will discuss how the
cultural safety, collaboration and self-determination informs me about my interactions with the
aboriginal people, their families and Torres Strait islander health workers. Secondly, I will
discuss how I can apply my advocacy in health service delivery to promote their well-being.
Finally, I will discuss on the activities as a health provider will advocate to ensure there is no
discrimination among aboriginal people.
Component 1
Cultural safety means an environment which is socially, emotionally, physically and
spiritually safe for the aboriginal people (Sian 2014, p.100). It helps people in achieving a
holistic health. Holistic health is an approach of life that focuses on the well-being of a person
and how he or she interacts with the environment (Balbir & Jas 2013, p.70). When interacting
with the aboriginal people, one should examine their cultural identities, altitudes and be open
minded and flexible to them. This will help in building strong relationship with them.
Cultural safety has helped me in reflecting on my altitudes when interacting with the
aboriginal people hence creating good relationship with them. To the individuals, I advised them
on the kind of nutrition they should be taking to avoid some health problems. Moreover, I

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educated the community about chronic diseases and how they should prevent them. I also offered
some free services to the old and poor people who could not raise money to visit health facilities.
Finally, I trained aboriginal health workers on some clinical procedures which helped in
improving their skills. Aboriginal people are not only discriminated in the health sector but also
education whereby they are taught by teachers who are not experienced (Michelle 2017, p.120).
Self-determination is the combination of attitudes and abilities that lead people to form
goals and come up with measures of achieving them (Jane 2014, p. 80). Self-determination has
enabled me to create good relationship with the aboriginal people. To the individuals, I was able
to apply the standards of care during my clinical procedures like obeying their culture and ethics.
This made them to be happy with my services hence creating good relationship. Moreover, I
ensured that the family members have received all the necessary information about their patients.
Finally, I would ensure that education given to the aboriginal people is necessary for their
nursing practice.
Collaboration is whereby two or more people work together to achieve a certain goal.
Collaboration with the aboriginal people have helped me creating good relation with them. I
have achieved this through taking part in campaigns against discrimination. My efforts in
ensuring that they receive equal services in the health facilities has made the aboriginal people
happy with me. Additionally, I made sure that the family members are informed about the
condition of their patients. Finally, I made sure that aboriginal workers are not mislead during
their training program and are given proper training.
Component 2

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Advocacy in nursing can be described as a nurse- patient relationship (Associate &
Denise 2014, p.50). Nurses can show advocacy in their practices by ensuring maximum safety
for their patients. In this case, cultural diversity will enable me in ensuring aboriginal people
within the health facilities are not exposed to environment which can worsen their conditions. I
would also make sure that they receive services as required by the care plan. I would stand to
question and protect their rights by speaking out against any policy or action which can put their
lives into more risks or is against their culture.
In most facilities, aboriginal people are given medicines that are expired which can put
their lives into more risks. They are also given medicines which are not in line with their
conditions. In this case, self-determination will help me in ensuring aboriginal people are given
correct medicines for their conditions. Moreover, I will be able to report to the relevant
authorities if any health provider tries to behave in a way which can affect the lives of the
aboriginal people. For example, giving them expired medicines or failure to follow the standards
of nursing practice when handling them.
Moreover, collaboration will help me in ensuring aboriginal people receive the correct
education about the chronic diseases and how to prevent them. Additionally, I will be able to
inform family members about the condition of their patient and the kind of care given to them.
Finally, I will give them a chance to challenge any kind of care plan given if they feel it violates
their rights. According to Ros (2018, p.100), advocacy is an important tool nurses should apply
not only to ensure well-being of the patient but also the community.
Component 3

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Discrimination among the aboriginal people is common in health facilities therefore
cultural safety can help in fulfilling the gap. I think aboriginal people are human beings like any
other and should receive quality services to improve their well-being. Cultural diversity helps
health workers advocate for equal health services to aboriginal people by taking part in
campaigns against discrimination. Educating people on the importance of giving quality care can
help in minimizing discrimination.
Self-determination, would enable me contribute to community development initiatives
like building health facilities in their community. Aboriginal people are forced to walk for
kilometers in search for health services which is sometimes challenging. Building health
facilities near them will help in minimizing these challenges. I will sacrifice myself to offer
services to them within the facilities. I will also make sure the health facilities has improved care
system to ensure that they receive quality services.
Finally, I would collaborate with aboriginal people and engage in political action which
helps in promoting effective political developments. This includes ensuring that aboriginal
people are attended by experienced health experts like other people. Also, I would ensure that the
health facilities are built in safe places which cannot put their lives into more risks.
Conclusion
Health is not only the well-being of the individual but also that of the community.
Cultural safety, safe determination and collaboration plays major roles in determining a holistic
health of a person. Cultural safety means an environment which is social, emotional, physical
and spiritually safe for the aboriginal people. On the other hand, self-determination means
combining attitudes and abilities towards achieving quality health for the aboriginal people.

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Finally, collaboration means working together with aboriginal people to ensure that they are not
discriminated in the health facilities. As a health provider, there are some of the things one can
do to advocate for cultural safety to the aboriginal people. One of them is by ensuring that they
receive equal and quality services within the health facilities.
References
Associate, W & Denise, P, 2014, Indigenous and Minority Peoples and Cultural Safety: The Role
of Nursing Praxis, VOL.30, NO.1, PP. 30-500
Balbir, G & Jas, C.K, 2013, Cultural Safety Assessment of an Urban Canadian Hospital, Journal
of Cultural Diversity, VOL. 20, NO.4, PP.50-400
Jane, L, 2014, Violent and Tragic Events: The Nature of Domestic Violence-Related Homicide
Cases in Central Australia, Australian Aboriginal Studies, Vol.14, No. 1, PP. 70-300

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Michelle, LD, 2017, Journal Conversations: Building the Research Self-Efficacy of an
Aboriginal Early Career Academic, the Qualitative Report, Vol. 22, No. 12, PP. 10-400
Ros, B, 2018, Adult Literacy and Socio-Cultural Learning at Pina Pina Jarrinjaku (Yuendumu
Learning Centre), Australian Journal of Adult Learning, Vol. 58, No. 1, PP. 90-300
Sian, T, 2014, Cultural Safety for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Adults within Australian
Music Therapy Practices, Australian Journal of Music Therapy, PP. 100-200