African American Heritage Paper Essay

This paper explores the Afri dirty dog American heritage and in addition identifies the significance of nurses beingness ethnically aw atomic number 18, sensitive and sufficient when caring for people of African American heritage. Although these terms mentioned above are substance abused interchangeably, they have different meanings. pagan awareness is appreciating the external or material part of the conclusion, such(prenominal) as the music, arts, and physical characteristics, and dress. Cultural aesthesia is the personal attitudes toward the culture, such as not saying things that is offensive to approximatelyone from a different ethnic or heathenish background (Purnell,2013, p. 4).Cultural competence is putting it all together by using your cognition to render culturally congruent vexation and to be able to urinate effectively with people in cross- cultural situations. African Americans are the aid largest ethnocultural groups in the United States however, it is on e of the most misunderstood cultures. This culture is so unique be create they have mixed their cultures from their different homes of origin in Africa, along with American culture. This paper overviews the history, communications, family roles, workforce issues, biocultural ecology, high-risk behaviors, pregnancy and childbirth practices, spirituality, health oversee practices, nutrition, and death rituals in the African American culture.It is all significant(p) that nurses figure themselves as becoming culturally competent when caring for African Americans, and this involves incorporating cultural desire, cultural awareness, cultural acquaintance, cultural skill, and cultural encounter with the people of African American heritage (Campinha-Bacote, 2009). 2 A treat manner TO African American HERITAGE One of the largest minority groups in the United States, African Americans culture includes the various cultural traditions of different African ethnic groups. info from the U . S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census (2001) reveals that there are approximately 34,333,000 African Americans residing in the United States, representing 12. 1% of the total population (Campinha-Bacote, 2009). They were forcibly merchandise into the United States as slaves from 1619 to 1860 (Purnell, 2013, p. 21). During slavery, they incorporated their culture from their homes of origin, and as a result, their culture included several cultural traditions of African ethnic groups. M either African Americans live in poverty overdue to discrimination and lack of kosher education.Most families of African American heritage value education, but they di saveery struggle to have equal representation in the workplace, and are more likely to work in a hazardous environment, resulting in capriole related diseases and unwellness. Due to the lower-level positions and the difficulty in achieving higher opportunities in the workplace, somewhat African Americans strain to feel discouraged. Nurses need to address discrimination and also issues that create ethnic or racial tension in the workplace. incline is the language spoken by African Americans, however, people of lower socio stinting status communicate in an informal language known as African American English (AAE) (Purnell, 2013, p. 22). According to Campinha-Bacote (2009), the major problem that AAE speakers shell is prejudice. Most people believe that AAE is inferior to Standard American English. As a result, African Americans who speak AAE are sometimes misinterpreted as being uneducated. Nurses should be aware not to stereotype African Americans as exclusively speaking AAE, and also not to stereotype them as uneducated establish on the way they communicate. African Americans are expressive when 3.A NURSING order TO AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE communicating and often use body languages to convey their feelings. Their expressive language and body movement can be misconstrued as anger or provocati on. Nurses need to be acquainted(predicate) with these characteristics and not misinterpret them. As a nurse, when interacting with African Americans for the first time, be sure as shooting to address them formally, until given permission to use other names, such as their first name. The African-American family has evolved over the last two decades and still continues to evolve.A person that is brought up in a traditional nuclear family is more likely to continue that tradition. Whereas, a person that is brought up in a single parent home is more likely to continue that same tradition. Although these situations are more likely, they are not al shipway so. To declare oneself the most competent tutorship, the best thing for the nurse to do would be to ask the patient in a non-judgmental way about family dynamics and also ask them what they would feel the most comfortable with when it comes to decision making for their anxiety. The nurse should then accept this decision.Being know ledgeable about this cultural groups family values and beliefs are sustenance-or-death for providing care for the African American patient (Revell & McGhee, 2012). A high percentage of African American households are matriarchal and fall below poverty level. With that being said, it is refreshed for nurses to make a point of including women when discussing health care issues. Nurses also should military issue note when dealing with homosexual individuals in this ethnic group, not to get wind confidence by sharing their lifestyles with others. This breeding can jeopardize and cause conflicts within the family and ruin relationships.Romantic relationships of the same-sex are not totally unexceptionable within this culture. 4 A NURSING order TO AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE As in many culture, social status is important in African American community. African Americans are often met with veto atmosphere and prejudice attitudes based on their cultural background and fight color. As sumptions are made based on AAE spoken by some as an indication of unintelligence and the lack of education. These assumptions sometimes affect employment opportunities and art promotions. Nurses should be cautious not to fall into the stereotyping African Americans based on these characteristics.African American skin color ranges from light to very sinister due to the combination of a gene pool of more than one C racial strains (Purnell, 2013, p. 25). When assessing for cyanosis in dark-skinned African Americans, be sure to redress financial aid to the oral mucosa or conjunctiva. When assessing for pallor, note the absence of the fundamental red tones that give the skin its glow. Lastly, when observing for jaundice, be sure to look at the sclera of the eyes, the soles of the feet, and the palms of the hands for any yellow stain (25).Health care is a luxury that low socioeconomic African Americans whitethorn not be able to afford. Meeting their daily require takes priority o ver what they believe to be minor health issues. Consequently, diseases that could be treatable might end up being a life- threatening situation. African Americans are family orientated, because of this some tend to initially seek medical attention from family members rather than going to a health care professional. Health care professionals need to be aware of this and work toward teaching and distributing health information via church and community centers. Most African American women are against abortion due to spiritual, cultural, and moral beliefs.As a result, there is a ensure in making a decision until it becomes too late. 5 A NURSING METHOD TO AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE Family support is crucial for heavy(predicate) African American women. Gichia (2000) studied and found out that African American women look for role regulates such as older feminine relatives, or if they have none, they look for someone who seemed like a pose to them, such as a neighbor.These role model s can provide the expectant charr and new mother with needed support. According to Abbyad & Robertson (2011), nurses caring for pregnant African American women need to be informed about the variety show of ways in which childbirth preparation can occur, as in any other group of pregnant women.Moreover, nurses need to conceptualise the ways in which their attitudes and behaviors send unwelcoming messages to African American women seeking prenatal care or childbirth classes. These attitudes can discourage the African American woman in seeking further care. Culturally competent care for the childbearing African American woman includes addressing all components of care including the use of complementary and alternative medicine (Revell, 2012).The childbirth nurse that is providing culturally competent care should be aware that the perceived norm is different for every family. African Americans are spiritual and are usually affiliated with some religious order. Historically, the chur ch has played a major role in the life of African American culture. The church is a place where they can pull together on common grounds. Faith and prayer is one of the most important attributes of Christian African Americans. They believe that matinee idol has the power to heal them, and he also has the power not to. They believe that whatever happens to them is according to Gods will. Food is very valuable in the African American culture.It symbolizes health and wealth. It is derived from African descent. When intellectual nourishment is offered to someone, it means that the person is valued and by offering food, they are given you something that is 6 A NURSING METHOD TO AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE valuable to them. When it comes to nutrition, some African American diets are high in cholesterol and fats. According to James (2004), African Americans will need information on basic nutrition topics such as serving sizes and reading food labels. Nurses that work in African American c ommunities should be involved in programs that promote healthy food choices.These programs can specifically be developed for churches, neighborhood grocery stores, and local anesthetic restaurants. Health disparities among the African-American population include life expectancy, heart disease, hypertension, infant morality and morbidity rates, cancer, sickle cell diseases, HIV/AIDS, violence, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and asthma (Campinha-Bacote, 2009). Unfortunately, they have the tendency to see a health care professional only when absolutely necessary. Health is viewed as harmony with nature, whereas illness is seen as a disruption in this harmonic state due to demons (Purnell,2013, p. 33). Recognize and support your patient cultural behaviors and believes to promote healthy interactions. In addition, always provide factual information about health practices that may not be understood due to their cultural believes and cultural differences.In conclusion, it is recommended that n urses familiarize themselves with cultural specific information in order to provide cultural competent care in African American community. Nurses should consider the following question In caring for African- American patients, have I asked myself the right questions. It is important for nurses to be aware of their biases and prejudices toward African Americans. In addition, they should possess the needed skills to conduct a cultural assessment while possessing knowledge of this cultural group (Campinha-Bacote, 2009). Lastly, nurses should always 7 A NURSING METHOD TO AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE have the desire to become culturally competent not just with African American patients, but any patient that has been placed in their charge. 8 A NURSING METHOD TO AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE Resources Abbyad, C. , & Robertson, T. (2011).African American Womens conceptualization for Childbirth From the Perspective of African American Health-Care Providers. ledger Of Perinatal Education, 20(1), 45-53. inside10. 1891/1058-1243. 20. 1. 45 Campinha-Bacote, J. (2009). Culture and diversity issues. A culturally competent model of care for African Americans. Urologic Nursing, 29(1), 49-54. Gichia, J. E, (2000), Mothers and others African-American womens preparation for motherhood. The American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing, 25(2), 86-91, James, D. (2004).Factors influencing food choices, dietary intake, and nutrition-related attitudes among African Americans application of a culturally sensitive model. Ethnicity & Health, 9(4), 349-367. Purnell, L. D. (2009). People of African American Heritage. Guide to culturally competent health care (2nd ed. , p. 21-35). Philadelphia F. A. Davis Co. Revell, M. A. , & McGhee, M. N. (2012). Evolution of the African American Family. world-wide Journal Of Childbirth Education, 27(4), 44-48. Revell, M. A. (2012). Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the African American Culture. International Journal Of Childbirth Education, 27( 3), 55-59.