CULTURAL DIVERSITY

Healthcare Science Technology

Mrs. Burgstiner RN

Common Ethnic Groups In USA

• African American: Africa, Jamaica, Haiti, • Dominican Republic• Hispanic American: Cuba, Mexico, Puerto Rico,Spain, etc

• European American: England, France, Germany, Ireland• Scotland, Scandinavia, Poland, Italy, Russia

• Middle Eastern: Jordan, Saudi, Iran, Lebanon etc.

Asian American: Cambodia, China, Hawaii, Japan, India• Philippines, Indonesia, Laos, Vietnamese• Native American: over 500 different tribes of Indians and• Eskimos

Race: classification of people based on physical or biological characteristics

• Frequently used to label a group and explain a pattern of behavior

• Race cuts across ethnic/cultural groups and behaviors are learned from ethnicity and culture not necessarily race.

• Example: African and Caribbean blacks share the same

• physical features but not the same beliefs/values

• Defined by:

• color of skin bone structure facial features

• hair, eyes

Cultural Diversity: differences among people resulting from cultural, ethnic and racial

factors• Culture, ethnicity, & race influence a persons

behavior, self-perception, judgement of others and interpersonal relationships

• US is a melting pot due to …• cultural assimilation: when different cultures

absorb into a dominant culture• requires that the other cultural groups discard

uniques beliefs and behaviors

Some say that the US is more like aMulticultural Society

• This is when many cultures exist and are recognized simultaneously and are all respected and accepted.

• Acculturation : This is when one culture adopts another, but happens over many years. Recent immigrants hang on to their beliefs, 2nd and 3rd generations start adapting to the norm.

Healthcare Workers Role with Cultural Diversity

• Sensitivity: appreciate and respect other • cultures/ethnic groups• example: Some Asians and Native Americans do

not like being called by their first name by just anyone.

• Remember that each person has and will continue to create new ideas and beliefs

• No one is 100% of anything..never assume what group you “think” someone is in.

Cultural Diversity in Healthcare

• Healthcare providers…• work with people from all cultures• must respect individuality of every person• must be aware of these differences:• physical family living geo. location • religious educational occupational• lanquage social/economical status • life expectancies

Healthcare Workers must realize that a persons cultural and ethnic background has a major influence on their life.

• Culture: the values, beliefs, customs and attitudes that are unique to a particular group of people and passes from one generation to the next.

• Not all culture is uniform among all members of a group…..but it is a foundation.

• A culture is a Blueprint or general design for living

Four Basic Rules of a Culture 1. It is Learned: taught by example2. It is Shared: has common practices/beliefs3. It is Social in nature: passed from generation to generation4. Is Dynamic and constantly changing: adapting to new ideas

Ethnicity: classification of people based on national origin or culture

Interference for Acceptance

• A. Bias:• ethnocentric beliefs or

supremacy belief.• Often includes

thinking that one way is better than another

• A Bias will define how certain groups are treated

• Examples of Bias:• young/old• educated/uneducated• rich/poor• obese/thin• women/men• sexual preference• White supremecy

B.Prejudice: means to pre-judge. Often based onideas, or bias’s taught or observed in a person’s life

Can also be formed from personal experiences.

• Causes fear/distrust• misunderstanding• believes that one

culture is better than another

• not always based on factual information

• Every Person is prejudiced to some degree

• We all want to feel our beliefs are correct

• need to be aware of your prejudices

• learn about others

• make sure info is correct

C.Stereotyping: happens when an assumption is made that everyone in a certain group are the same

• Labels people, ignoring the individual

• Example:• All blondes are dumb• People from the south

are slow• Poor people are dirty

• Exists with ;• race• gender• size• occupation• religion• occupation• Always remember every

person is unique

How Healthcare Workers can avoid these barriers

• Know your personal views and values

• Research and learn about groups that are not like you

• Develop friendships with people from different groups

• Act only on accurate information

• Avoid ethnic or sexual jokes

• Make a mistake??• Apologize if you hurt

someone• Forgive if someone

hurts you

A Deeper Look at Cultural Diversity

• Family Organization:• nuclear family• extended family• Patriarchal -vs-• Matriarchal families• Healthcare worker

must accept differences and allow for them

• Language• Healthcare worker can• speak slowly• use simple words• gestures/pictures• non-verbal • get help as needed

Personal Space and Touch: varies with different groups. Close: Arabs, French, Latin, Hispanics

Distant: African, European, Asian , Indians

• Watch for verbal and non-verbal cues.

• Ask questions, always explain what you are doing.

• Never ASSUME anything

• Eye Contact:• Muslim women -0• India- depends on class• European-like it, means

your interested• Native Americans-use

peripheral vision• Hispanic/African

Am. -brief/look away

Gestures: Are used to communicate. Many assume they are universal, but they are not.

• Respecting Cultural Diversity is done by:

• Listening• Learning• avoiding bias,

prejudices and stereotypes

• Ask before acting

• Evaluate all info• Allow pt to express• beliefs• you don’t have to

change your view just accept and respect others

• be sensitive to the needs of others

Avoiding Bias/Prejudice/Stereotype

• Know your own belief• Learn• Be sensitive to others

beliefs • Respect each others

beliefs• Make friends with

someone from a different group

• Ask questions• Evaluate all info• Avoid jokes that are

offensive• Apologize and forgive• Follow the Golden

Rule….”Do unto others as you would have them do to you”

THE END

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