Sociocultural Aspects of Wellness
Sociocultural Aspects of Wellness
Core Concepts
Culture: Thoughts, communications, actions, customs, beliefs, values, and institutions of racial, ethnic, religious, or social groups.
Learned and shared patterns of information.
Generates meaning and social structure.
Body of knowledge, belief, and behavior.
Subculture: Distinct identity related to a larger cultural group.
Material culture.
Nonmaterial culture.
Family: Basic unit of society; any group of people who live together and depend on one another for physical, emotional, and financial support (Taylor et al., 2023, p. 82).
Has roles and general divisions.
Different types exist.
Ethnicity: Relationship among individuals believing they have distinctive characteristics making them a group (distinct from race).
Culturally Respectful Care: Care centered on the client’s cultural point of view, integrating their values and beliefs into the plan of care.
Requires self-awareness.
Environment where trust can be developed.
Cultural Competence: Ongoing process where the nurse strives to achieve the ability and availability to work humbly and effectively within the cultural context of a client (individual, family, community).
Cultural desire: Motivation to engage in the process of becoming aware, gaining knowledge, and having cultural encounters.
Cultural awareness: Self-examination (e.g., prejudices).
Cultural sensitivity: Value and respect differences.
Cultural knowledge: Education of different cultures.
Cultural skills: Collect culturally relevant client data in a culturally sensitive manner.
Cultural encounters: Engaging in face-to-face interactions and learning to modify beliefs and prevent stereotyping.
Potential Issues
Culture shock.
Ethnocentrism.
Stereotyping.
Discrimination.
Prejudice.
Transcultural Care
Substantive area of study focused on providing care within the differences and similarities of cultural beliefs, values, and practices.
Goal: Provide culture-specific and universal nursing care for health and well-being; help individuals face unfavorable human conditions, illness, or death in culturally meaningful ways.
Nursing Process Considerations
Assessing (self, client, family).
Analyzing (Nursing diagnoses with strong cultural implications, e.g., Impaired verbal communication, Anxiety, Altered health maintenance).
Planning (Cultural factors that affect nursing care and common health problems in specific populations).
Implementing (Performing care with cultural competence).
Evaluating.
LEARN Model
Purpose: Understand the client’s perspective to create a culturally responsive plan of care:
L = Listen actively with empathy to the client’s perception of the problem
E = Explain what you heard/ask for clarification
A = Acknowledge the importance/meaning
R = Recommend inclusive strategies
N = Negotiate the plan of care by collaborating with the client & others
Tips for Transcultural Care
Become aware of role of cultural influences in own life
Observe behaviors & mirror to build trust
Appreciate differences
Respect individual
Be patient with differences
Acknowledge and celebrate culture!
Core Concepts
Culture: Thoughts, communications, actions, customs, beliefs, values, and institutions of racial, ethnic, religious, or social groups.
Learned and shared patterns of information.
Generates meaning and social structure.
Body of knowledge, belief, and behavior.
Influences perception of health, illness, and death.
Examples include language, religion, and traditions.
Subculture: Distinct identity related to a larger cultural group.
Material culture: Physical objects and resources.
Nonmaterial culture: Ideas, beliefs, values, and norms.
Examples include: LGBTQ+, Deaf Culture
Family: Basic unit of society; any group of people who live together and depend on one another for physical, emotional, and financial support (Taylor et al., 2023, p. 82).
Has roles and general divisions.
Examples include nuclear families, extended families, single-parent families.
Different types exist.
Ethnicity: Relationship among individuals believing they have distinctive characteristics making them a group (distinct from race).
Shared heritage, ancestry, origin, and language.
Influences food choices, traditions, and social interactions.
Culturally Respectful Care: Care centered on the client’s cultural point of view, integrating their values and beliefs into the plan of care.
Requires self-awareness.
Environment where trust can be developed.
Communicate respectfully and avoid assumptions.
Cultural Competence: Ongoing process where the nurse strives to achieve the ability and availability to work humbly and effectively within the cultural context of a client (individual, family, community).
Cultural desire: Motivation to engage in the process of becoming aware, gaining knowledge, and having cultural encounters.
Cultural awareness: Self-examination (e.g., prejudices).
Cultural sensitivity: Value and respect differences.
Cultural knowledge: Education of different cultures.
Cultural skills: Collect culturally relevant client data in a culturally sensitive manner.
Cultural encounters: Engaging in face-to-face interactions and learning to modify beliefs and prevent stereotyping.
Potential Issues
Culture shock.
Feelings of helplessness, discomfort, and disorientation experienced by an individual attempting to understand or effectively adapt to a different cultural group because of differences in practices, values, and beliefs.
Ethnocentrism.
Belief that one’s own culture or way of life is better than others.
Stereotyping.
Assigning a fixed image or idea to members of a particular group.
Discrimination.
Unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people or things, especially on the grounds of race, age, sex, or disability.
Prejudice.
Preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience.
Transcultural Care
Substantive area of study focused on providing care within the differences and similarities of cultural beliefs, values, and practices.
Understanding cultural variations in communication styles, family roles, and health practices is crucial.
Goal: Provide culture-specific and universal nursing care for health and well-being; help individuals face unfavorable human conditions, illness, or death in culturally meaningful ways.
Integrate cultural practices that promote health and well-being
Nursing Process Considerations
Assessing (self, client, family).
Gather relevant cultural data about the client’s health beliefs and practices.
Analyzing (Nursing diagnoses with strong cultural implications, e.g., Impaired verbal communication, Anxiety, Altered health maintenance).
Consider cultural factors when interpreting assessment data and formulating nursing diagnoses.
Planning (Cultural factors that affect nursing care and common health problems in specific populations).
Develop culturally appropriate goals and interventions in collaboration with the client.
Implementing (Performing care with cultural competence).
Provide culturally sensitive care that respects the client’s beliefs and values.
Evaluating.
Evaluate the effectiveness of interventions in achieving culturally congruent outcomes.
LEARN Model
Purpose: Understand the client’s perspective to create a culturally responsive plan of care:
L = Listen actively with empathy to the client’s perception of the problem
Seek to understand the client’s perspective without judgment.
E = Explain what you heard/ask for clarification
Share your understanding and ask for confirmation.
A = Acknowledge the importance/meaning
Show that you understand their feelings and experiences are valid.
R = Recommend inclusive strategies
Collaboratively suggest strategies that incorporate cultural beliefs and practices.
N = Negotiate the plan of care by collaborating with the client & others
Develop a mutually acceptable plan of care that respects the client’s cultural values and preferences.
Tips for Transcultural Care
Become aware of role of cultural influences in own life
Reflect on your own cultural background