Nursing Essay: Racism, Whiteness, Cultural Safety, Aboriginal Health

This nursing essay examines racism in both personal and institutional forms, highlighting their impact on healthcare. It explores the power dynamics associated with the concept of whiteness in Australian nursing, emphasizing how these dynamics affect healthcare services and patient care. The essay contrasts cultural safety and cultural competency, underscoring the importance of cultural safety in creating supportive environments. Furthermore, it reflects on the problems faced by Aboriginal Australians, particularly regarding access to healthcare and the impact of racism on their well-being. The conclusion summarizes the key findings, emphasizing the role of healthcare providers in improving the health of vulnerable populations.

Nursing Essay

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
STEP 1.............................................................................................................................................1
Comparison and contrasting of personal racism and institutional racism..............................1
Power dynamic associated with the concept of whiteness and how it related to contemporary
nursing practice in Australia...................................................................................................1
Comparing and contrasting the concept cultural safety and cultural competency (300).......2
STEP 2.............................................................................................................................................2
Reflection on the problems of aboriginal and racism (150)...................................................2
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................2
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................2

INTRODUCTION
Nursing refers a collaboration practices as well as care of all age group and race of people.
This study is going to show difference as well as similarities between individual and institutional
racism Alligood, (2017). It will also show ways and impacts of power dynamic of whiteness on
nursing practices. This power dynamic also affects healthcare services. Lastly, it will show
problems which Aboriginal Australian face as well as some differences between cultural safety
and cultural competency.
STEP 1
Comparison and contrasting of personal racism and institutional racism
Racism is considered and known as discrimination. It can also be discussed by belief
which all members of each race posses which may include: their abilities, education, qualities
which makes them differ or superior to another race of people. These differences and abilities
makes situation of discrimination and it is called racism. Racism comes from many forms and
main 2 forms of racism are: personal and institutional. Personal or individual racism is a type of
discrimination which are being done by people themselves because they believe that they are
superior than other race of people on some basis and it may be their skin colour, their education
and others Shelton & Barnes, (2016). Both these terms can be analysed with an appropriate
example. One of the best example by which the actual meaning of personal racism can be
understood is: For example: White people or terrorists attack on a church of black race of people
and kill some black people than this act will be known as individual racism.
On the flip side, institutional racism can be defined by comparing personal racism. It can
be said that this type of racism and discrimination occur when black race of people in the same
city die each year because of lack of access to food and other health care services. Than it will be
known as institutional racism, So, from the example, it can be said that an unequal and unfair
distribution of resources, opportunities in different race is called institutional racism. One of the
main similarities between those is it affects only those races of people who lacks on abilities and
some other basis. Discrimination occur in both types of racism Bailey & et.al., (2017).
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Power dynamic associated with the concept of whiteness and how it related to contemporary
nursing practice in Australia
Whiteness is a socially constructed category of race in which non-white people are being
designated racially. But white people are considered as superior category of people and they
occupy position which allows them to carry on several opportunities. In the context of power
dynamic in nursing about whiteness, it can be said that there are several power and opportunities
are being given to white nurses and people in the nursing systems. This difference and
opportunity develop a culture of power whose main aim is to take advantages of opportunities
rather respect others Harrison-White & Owens, (2018).
So, it can be said that differences in nursing system and their practices, lower morale of
black race and ethnicity of people. It also majorly affects their health care services which
decreases quality of patients’ health care. So, overall it can be said that this power dynamic and
differences are becoming the reason of cultural violence which impacts on patients’ health in a
negative manner.
Comparing and contrasting the concept cultural safety and cultural competency
There are some differences between cultural safety and cultural competency. Cultural safety
refers a process of making or having an environment that is safe in all spiritual, social as well as
emotional manner. People feel physically safe in this type of environment as there is no assault
challenge of their identity as who they are and what they need. This type of environment is
known as cultural safety. On the other hand, cultural competency refers capabilities of people of
different cultures to understand and interact with people across cultures. It also refers willingness
and ability of people to develop a positive attitude towards cultural differences. Having
willingness of getting knowledge of different cultural practices is known as cultural competency.
For more defining and analysing it can be said that cultural safety plays an important role but as
compare to cultural competency it is not that much important as like cultural competency. From
the definition of both, it can be said that cultural safety rather than cultural competency required
more for improving quality of lives of people and make them feel valued as well as safe
Henderson & et.al., (2018).
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On the other hand, for defining cultural competency it is important to analyse it and make it
compare to cultural safety. With the help of analyses it is known that some jurisdictions have
included cultural competency in health professional licensing legislation, pre-service and in
service training programmes. In the context of nursing and healthcare department, it can say that
health care organizations and nurses need to be engaged in working towards cultural safety. For
this they will also require to critique the taken for granted power structure in order to challenge
their own culture system. By doing this they can improve healthcare services and improve
quality of lives of people.
STEP 2
Reflection on the problems of aboriginal and racism
Racism is one of the main problems which they are facing. Aboriginal Australian are facing
institutional racism as per this discrimination they do not have proper access to healthcare
services, education and employability. All these things make an individual able to perform
activities and improving quality of their lives. As per the above discussed I can say that
institutional racism creating several other problems for them. Children of this group do not have
access and opportunity to compete high school and due to lack of education they commit several
unethical acts. I can also say in this context that people who are not given equal opportunities
they feel less valued and it decreases their morale. Due to this unfairness they commit crimes,
violence, and abuse and consume alcohol to the great extent. These acts affect their physical and
mental health and they lack behind. They have right as per human rights to live in freedom and
as like other group of people but behaviours of superior group of people towards Aboriginal and
unequal distribution of opportunities and resources create all these problems Kamp & et.al.,
(2018). Indigenous Victorian adults are approximate four times more likely to have experienced
racism than their non-Indigenous counterparts.
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Conclusion
From the above study it has been summarized that healthcare providers played a vital role in
improving health of vulnerable and Aboriginal Australian. They focus on identifying needs of
such types of people and provide them access to healthcare services, education and
employability. It has also shown difference between personal and institutional racism. Power
dynamic of whiteness also affect nursing practices in a critical manner and all those impacts has
been discussed in this study.
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REFERENCES
Books & Journal
Shelton, S. A., & Barnes, M. E. (2016). “Racism just isn't an issue anymore”: Preservice
teachers' resistances to the intersections of sexuality and race. Teaching and Teacher
Education. 55. 165-174.
Bailey, Z. D. & et.al., (2017). Structural racism and health inequities in the USA: evidence and
interventions. The Lancet. 389(10077). 1453-1463.
Alligood, M. R. (2017). Nursing theorists and their work-e-book. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Harrison-White, K., & Owens, J. (2018). Nurse link lecturers' perceptions of the challenges
facing student nurses in clinical learning environments: A qualitative study. Nurse
education in practice. 32. 78-83.
Henderson, S. & et.al., (2018). Cultural competence in healthcare in the community: a concept
analysis. Health & social care in the community. 26(4). 590-603.
Kamp, A. & et.al., (2018). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's attitudes towards
Australian multiculturalism, cultural diversity,'race'and racism, 2015-16. Australian
Aboriginal Studies. (2). 50.
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