Cultural Reflection: Analyzing Cultural Experiences in Nursing

This assignment is a cultural reflection paper by a nursing student, detailing their experiences caring for patients from diverse cultural backgrounds. The student primarily focuses on their interactions with Italian patients in a nursing home, highlighting the importance of formal communication, understanding cultural nuances in dress and appearance, and appreciating the value placed on outward appearances. The reflection then expands to identify areas for improvement in cultural competence, specifically addressing the need to learn more about Islamic, Jewish, and Aboriginal cultures. The student outlines plans to expand their knowledge on dietary restrictions, religious practices, and traditional healing methods to provide better and more respectful care. The paper emphasizes the importance of continuous learning through reading, research, and engaging with patients to build rapport and improve cultural sensitivity in healthcare delivery. The student aims to become a culturally competent nurse by integrating cultural practices into healthcare interventions.

Running head: CULTURAL REFLECTION 1
Cultural Reflection
Name
Institutional Affiliation

CULTURAL REFLECTION 2
CULTURAL REFLECTION
In this assignment, I am writing about my past placement cultural experience as I was
assigned to take of a patient of diverse cultures. I was working in a nursing home where the
major clients came from Italian descent. Thus, I became familiar with some foods that Italians
clients like and their way of communication. I learned that when caring one has to use a formal
communication using proper surname unless you are invited to use the first name. I have also
learned to speak the Italian language because Italian favor communication via face-to-face since
they are mainly expressive speakers who must utilize hands alongside several phrases/words to
pass just one message across.
I have also learned some values Italians put on dress appearance. I have come to
appreciate that Italians treasure external appearances and always forgo comfort to accomplish
classiness (Cavicchi, 2017). Thus, as a nurse, I have learned that my Italian clients still expect
me to have well-groomed hair, elegant shoes and a flawless sense of style. I have acknowledged
that outward appearance means everything to the Italian culture and they would quickly judge a
nurse on how he or she looks and how nurses dress. Thus, I have learned that what I wear as a
nurse says all regarding me; plus my social status, education and background of my family.
Knowing these have made me become a better nurse when working with and caring for my
Italian patients.
However, I have also come to appreciate that I need to improve in dealing with other
cultures that I have little knowledge about to be culturally competent. Specifically, I will have
challenges working with the Islamic, Jewish, and African cultures. I need to expand my
knowledge regarding the Islamic cultures in the next month. I need to understand that Islamic
culture does not accept eating pork and thus I need to follow some other practices they restrict so

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that I do not come at loggerheads with them and start to see me as someone who is opposed to
their culture and disrupt them which will impede my work (Paris et al., 2018).
Also, I have heard that the Jewish community do not accept a blood transfusion,
however, I am never sure about this, and thus I need to expand my knowledge in the next two
months to confirm if it is indeed true and see how I can quickly work with them harmoniously
while respecting their dignity and cultures (Robinson & Clark, 2017). In the next one month, I
will seek to expand my knowledge to confirm which particular cultures prohibit their women
from crying during labor pain because it is regarded as shameful so that when working them, I do
mix them with other women from other cultures that might cry during labor pain to show them
respect (Shen, 2015).
Another culture I would wish to expand my knowledge on is Aboriginal culture.
Aboriginal believes in traditional healing processes and opposes being hospitalized or taking
drugs. Also, Aboriginal believe in bush medicine which makes it hard to convince them to
take drugs when sick. This will ensure that I do not show any negative attitude because I shall
have knowledge and understanding of their culture. Thus I will seek to understand this culture in
the coming two months to know how I can integrate their cultural practices to health care
provision interventions.
I would wish to study much about these cultures within one month so that I have a clear
picture of each cultural practices to make me a better nurse. I will read more books and articles
on different cultures to understand the relationship between culture and healthcare. I seek to
build rapport with my clients and ask them questions about the cultural practices and beliefs that
affect healthcare providers. This will make have the desired cultural competence that will help
me give competent care to patients from diverse cultures (Flinkman et al., 2017).

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References
Cavicchi, C. (2017). Healthcare sustainability and the role of intellectual capital: evidence from
an Italian regional health service. Journal of Intellectual Capital, 18(3), 544-563.
Flinkman, M., Leino‐Kilpi, H., Numminen, O., Jeon, Y., Kuokkanen, L., & Meretoja, R. (2017).
Nurse Competence Scale: a systematic and psychometric review. Journal of advanced
nursing, 73(5), 1035-1050.
Paris, W., Seidler, R. J. H., FitzGerald, K., Padela, A. I., Cozzi, E., & Cooper, D. K. (2018).
Jewish, Christian and Muslim theological perspectives about
xenotransplantation. Xenotransplantation, 25(3), e12400.
Robinson, T., & Clark, C. (2017). Increasing the Cultural Competence & Responsiveness of
Family Nurse Practitioners: Preparing to Work with Children with Behavioral Challenges
from High-Minority Low-Income Communities. Multicultural Education, 25(1), 9-9.
Shen, Z. (2015). Cultural competence models and cultural competence assessment instruments in
nursing: a literature review. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 26(3), 308-321.