Nursing is a profession that necessitates the understanding of cultural differences. By utilizing appropriate cross-cultural communication techniques with First Nations people, nurses will be enhancing their ability to inquire about their client�s health care needs.
Hegemony is concept that needs to be examined in providing culturally sensitive care due to the allocation of power, which exists within First Nation communities. This structure of power could have a profound impact on the way health care is both delivered and recieved by the community.
By utilizing culturally sensitive care within First Nation communities, nurses will be able to obtain accurate information about their clients. In order to facilitate the empowerment process within different cultural groups, nurses should first be encouraged to seek out their own personal meaning and feeling towards the First Nations ethnicity and culture. A crucial way in which nurses can determine their thoughts and feelings is through self-awareness.
Recognizing that this populations need for culturally sensitive care is essential for the facilitation of empowerment. Not having any form of a traditional method of healing or treatment is discouraging for some Aboriginals and therefore retracts some people away from seeking any form of treatment (Ship, 2000).
In reality, many First Nations people feel that they are not receiving culturally sensitive care when being treated for type 2 diabetes. Very often, health care providers in the community do not originate from the community and therefore lack knowledge and sensitivity of the language, customs and traditions of the First Nations culture (Indian and Inuit Health Committee 1994). With this in mind, it is imperative that the nurse take the necessary steps to become culturally aware if they do not originate from the culture. Members of the community should be encouraged to have a nursing education, which would facilitate and increase community mobilization. Community programs should be culturally appropriate as well as providing resources, materials and programs that complement the culture, which will ultimately encourage learning and make it more meaningful.
By having nursing care in a community that is congenial and enforces confidentiality, people will be more receptive towards seeking out help. Nursing care additionally has to be readily available and accessible to all members of the community.
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