REM Framework: Optimizing Chronic Care with Indigenous Respect

This essay discusses the importance of cultural respect in providing optimal care for Indigenous Australians with chronic conditions. It highlights the historical context of racial discrimination within the Australian medical system and its impact on the health-seeking behavior of Indigenous people. The essay emphasizes the role of nurses in providing holistic, unbiased care, respecting cultural beliefs, and advocating for patients' rights. It also touches upon the REM (Respect, Engagement, Moving Forward) framework as a guide for nurses to ensure cultural safety and promote positive health outcomes. The essay concludes by noting the progress made through initiatives like translator services and cultural sensitivity training for healthcare professionals, contributing to a more inclusive and effective healthcare system for Indigenous Australians. Desklib provides this assignment solution and many other resources for students.

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Running Head: CARE IN CHRONIC CONDITIONS
Optimizing care in chronic conditions while ensuring indigenous cultural respect within the clinical
environment
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CARE IN CHRONIC CONDITIONS
Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................2
Cultural diversity.....................................................................................................................................2
How does discrimination marginalize people..............................................................................................2
Role of a nurse in ensuring optimal care.....................................................................................................3
Conclusion...................................................................................................................................................4
Works Cited.................................................................................................................................................5

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Introduction
Cultural diversity
In Australia there are two indigenous tribes the Aboriginals and the Torres Strait
people. These two groups are further subdivided into groups each according to the geographical
surroundings and local languages used by the two groups. These two groups have different
cultural practices and different origins (Reilly 2016). Modern Australia is made up a mixture of
cultures, which result from the British colonialization and intermarriages between the different
tribes of either Aboriginal or Torres Strait people.
How does discrimination marginalize people
Racial discrimination has been the most rampant vice in the medical system in
Australia; this makes the health seeking behavior of the indigenous people poor, affecting their
overall health and that of the nation at large (Bailie 2015). The indigenous people of Australia
are discriminated because of their skin color, and their cultural practices, what we fail to

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understand is they are the original Australian people regardless of their skin color, and they
should be appreciated and not discriminated because of their culture or skin color.
However, nowadays there is increased cultural safety and respect for the
indigenous people of Australia. To honor their diversity the government has set up education
funds to be used specifically by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait people.
Role of a nurse in ensuring optimal care
Most of the indigenous Australian people suffer from racial discrimination
especially in hospitals which result to poor health of these two indigenous groups. As nurses we
should be able to offer holistic care and unbiased care to patients regardless of their cultural
roots. The nurse should understand and respect the diversity of the Australian people and respect
their cultural beliefs. Offering safe and holistic care is the goal to improving medical services
offered to the Australian people. The people need to feel appreciated for who they are; this will
increase the health care seeking practices and improve the overall medical care of the Australian
people (Australia 2018,february).
The nurse should offer person-centered care by ensuring that there is no
communication barrier and informed consent is signed. The nurse should also ensure that the
patient is advocated for and well represented legally.
The nurse should be conversant with the different cultures and ensure that every
culture is well represented and their beliefs are respected. This can be accomplished through

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supporting the different culture through cultural promotion and fighting for their rights and
safety, because the nurse is the patients advocate.
Conclusion
These are strategies documented by the Nurses and Midwives Board of Australia to
help improve the health seeking behavior of the Indigenous people of Australia (Carey 2017).
Appreciating them and fighting for them, will make them feel respected and valued and
eventually they will be able to trust the health care professionals enough to seek medical care in
certified institutions. Working with the Aboriginals and the Torres Strait people has now been
made easy, there are translators who can speak both English and the native language, some
nurses have also taken the initiative to learn the native language, which has enabled them provide
quality care to the natives.
The Australian people have a history of shared cultures through intermarriages
and colonialization from the Britons. This makes the Australian history very complex and
beautiful. Understanding the different cultural backgrounds will enable a nurse provide quality
care to all her clients.

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Works Cited
Australia, NAMBO 2018,february, 'NMBA and CATSINaM joint statement on culturally safe care', AHPRA
ABN: 78 685 433 429.retrived from http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Codes-Guidelines-
Statements/Position-Statements/joint-statement-on-culturally-safe-care.aspx
Bailie, J,SG 2015, Quality of Primary Health Care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People in
Australia. Key Research Findings and Messages for Action from the ABCD National Research Partnership
Project., Menzies Sch Health Res, 10.
Carey, TA,DP 2017, 'The Australian Psychological Society's Apology to Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander People.', Australian Psychologist, vol 4, no. 25, pp. pp.261-267.
Reilly, RAKJ, 2016, 'Trapped in the gap: doing good in Indigenous Australia.', Health Sociology Review, vol
3, no. 25, p. 342.

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