How to Be Culturally Competent

The new Millennium has presented numerous opportunities for the nurses to develop a multicultural healthcare approach. In this case, the healthcare professionals are required to understand the patient's culture in an attempt to provide culturally relevant health care services. Statistics indicate that incorporation of cultural in patient's health care services has significantly lead to enhanced healthcare services as well as increased patient's participation in the healthcare process as well as improving patient satisfaction with the nature of health services provided by culturally relevant health services ( Dreachslin et al., 2013) . It is, therefore, essential for healthcare providers to understand the patients and other staff's culture in an attempt to promote quality healthcare ( Purnell, 2013) . 

A developmental assessment is an evaluation carried out to determine an individual's culture. In this case, the paper will focus on a developmental assessment carried out for a patient from the minority groups specifically an African American to determine how culture influence the individual's behavior and response to healthcare services which in turn will help to arrive at a culturally relevant healthcare service for the patient. The patient is an inpatient in a local health facility and is undergoing cancer treatment at its chronic stage. Mr. J.M, a man in his mid-60s, has been on and off the hospital for treatment. The cultural competency assessment will focus on the Purnell Model twelve domains of cultural competency. 

Assessment 

Overview 

Even though the patient identifies as an African American, the patient notes that he was born in African but immigrated to the US in search of better jobs where he ended up settling in a rural area in the US. As a result of the high levels of poverty among the Africans and other minority groups, the Mr. J.M indicated that he is a form four leaver and have been working as a un-skilled laborer with relatively low salary. 

Communication 

Mr. J. M communication with the health professional faced with numerous challenge since he has been raised in the African and have been using the English language as a second language. Importantly, the use of body languages such as gestures and facial expression were incorporated in the communication in an attempt to emphasize on specific points. At some point, the patient used body language to express ideas that he did not have words to communicate with. Additionally, the healthcare provider and the patients also have significant differences in voice notation while using some words which in turn gave the words a different meaning. 

Family Roles and Organization 

Mr. J.M noted that being from the African continent, the society has placed family responsibilities to the male gender and this explains why he migrated from his home to the US in search of better jobs to sustain his family. As a man, father to his four children and husband to his wife, he was the sole breadwinner which in turn overburdened the man even at his age. Mr. J. M also noted that his family is back in his homeland and therefore he has no one to help him around which makes his health condition worse. 

Workforce Issues 

Mr. J.M notes that as an African man, he is expected to be bold in every situation. However, he indicates that his health status is a burden to him as well as his family due to their financial challenges as well as because he is the sole breadwinner. He also states that individualism in the African continent is a significant contributor to the African declining economic status as well as poor health being experienced in the region. MR. J.M further state that cancer is a substantial threat to Africans due to its high cost of treatment as well as underequipped healthcare facilities. 

Bicultural ecology 

Mr. J. M indicated that his father died of prostate cancer when he was a teenager and he believes that his cancer was inherited from his father. Being a black, Mr. J.M views cancer as a dangerous disease whose chances of survival are minimal based on his experiences with a cancer patient's in his homeland. As a result, Mr. J.M negativity is cancer treatment especially for his stage four cancer was evident throughout the interview season. 

High-risk Behavior 

Mr. J.M is an alcoholic and a chain smoker which places his health condition at risk. Cancer patient's immune system is relatively low, and use of drugs adversely impact on the patient's general well- being. Mr. J.M states that he has smoked for the last thirty years and have been an alcoholic for the previous four years. Despite his worsening health condition, Mr. J.M stated that he smokes a few cigarettes whenever he feels better. He also noted that he hardly exercise since he is always held up with manual jobs which are quite tasty. 

Nutrition 

Mr. J.M noted that he has not been conservative with his nutrition. Importantly he notes that he earns relatively low which is inadequate to cater for his balanced diet as well as sustaining his family back in his home. Mr. J.M noted that fruits are expensive and he hardly eats them. Additionally, he notes that his busy schedule does not allow him time to enjoy the three or four meals a day and instead he takes one meal a day which is not always balanced. Nutrition plays an essential role in shaping the health status of an individual and hence, it is vital to maintaining a balanced diet with adequate nutrients ( Purnell, 2015) . 

Pregnancy and Childbearing 

Mr. J. M noted that in the African context men are superior and therefore hardly suffer fertility issues. Additionally, he adds that despite the increasing use of birth control, his religious practices which he notes as being a Catholics prohibits the use of contraceptives and instead advocates for natural ways of controlling birth. 

Death Rituals 

Mr. J.M noted that the Africans view death as the last right of passage and adequate preparation is carried out to send off the dead person. He further noted that the Africans believes in spirits which include the bad and the good spirits whereby the evil spirits haunt people while the good people protect the living. Mr. J.M also noted that as a Christian, when he dies, he will be buried using the church protocols. 

Spirituality 

Mr. J.M notes that the Africans are divided regarding religion and religious practices. In this case, he emphasizes that he is a Christian and he is guided by the teaching of the church and believes in one God. He also believes in the power of prayers and that God can do the impossible that no man can do including healing him the cancer diseases that is viewed as untreatable in his content. 

Healthcare Practices 

Mr. J.M indicates that there are numerous forms of treatment including traditional medication that is used to treat different medication. However, he appreciates and respects the modern healthcare that uses technology and science in healthcare services. He further notes that some diseases such as mental illnesses and chronic diseases such as his cancer diseases are viewed as curses in the African continent. 

Healthcare Practitioner 

Mr. J.M noted that he appreciates the role of healthcare providers. Hover, he believes that women should be the primary caregivers as they have caring and nurturing aspects. 

Conclusion  

The data obtained from the patient allows the healthcare providers to provide a culturally appropriate treatment approach which will, in turn, be well appreciated and reduce the resistance rate. Additionally, cultural competency in healthcare significantly aids in enhancing the quality of health care provided in the health facilities. 

References 

Dreachslin, J. L., Gilbert, M. J., & Malone, B. (2013).  Diversity and cultural competence in health care: A systems approach . San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. 

In Purnell, L. D. (2013).  Transcultural health care: A culturally competent approach . Philadelphia: F.A. Davis.