Question

How do multicultural issues/factors influence nursing practice and how do the health care system influence cultural practices and affiliation

Answer 1

Nursing practice is influenced by culture and social customs although culture and social customs are not the basis of nursing practice, Whenever possible a nurse is supposed to respect patient's sentiments and belief systems. To cite an example a Jehova Witness patient may refuse to receive blood transfusion citing cultural and faith reasons. In this case, a nurse can give a patient and his /her family information regarding their choice and its potential outcomes on a patient's health. There are some cultural differences when it comes to the care of the deceased patient(dead body) depending on some cultural factors. But, there are occasions where nurses should behave professionally and scientifically and rationally instead of respecting the patient's cultural beliefs and practices. For, an example in some regions of India, some communities prefer a male child and will ask to determine the sex of the fetus (determination of the sex of the fetus is illegal in India ) so that they can abort if it is a female child. Here nurses should disregard cultural prejudices and beliefs.

The health care system can also influence cultural practices in many ways. In some communities, smoking was never considered an unhealthy habit, instead, it was culturally accepted and promoted , but as a result of a plethora of research studies concluded its dangerous outcomes and side effects this attitude have changed and today, almost no cultures and communities across the world now consider it as a healthy choice, and, wherever possible people are discouraging the practice of smoking.