Heritage_Assessment

09/11/2013 Heritage Assessment With the increase in diverse population in the United States, the nurses in America need to Know the importance of culture and heritage importance in health care. .People from different parts of world carry different cultures . Each culture overview health in different ways. Understanding the culture make it easy to provide quality health care to individuals and families. Every culture have their own health belief to that what causes sickness and who should be involved in curing and what sort of remedy to be taken to cure the disease . The more the understanding of the culture of a patient the better the care the patient receives.”The Heritage Assessment Tool” is designed to find a patients cultural, religious, family and ethnic back ground. The norms and practices in each culture is varied. The “Heritage Assessment Tool” gives nurse a picture of the patients understanding regarding the health beliefs ,illness ,health and health promotion. This helps for the plan of developing a culturally appropriate health care. In this paper the goal of the author is to summarize the results of the assessments done on three different families of different cultures and utilize the results to plan the health promotion based on different cultures. The family support and family values are strong support for patient health care and health maintenance and health promotion. Author interviewed three families including authors own family who hail from India. Other two are Hispanic and American culture.”Culture is an element of ethnicity, consists of shared patterns of values and behaviors that characterize a particular group” (Winkleman 2001) It is “shaped by values, beliefs ,norms and practices that are shared by people of same cultural group”(Giger& Davidhizan2008 p.2). In Indian culture extended families are still widespread. Older family members are respected and involved in decision making of the family. The entire family is involved in the upbringing of children and usually grand children are taken cared by grandparents. This allows the older people to be active and healthy. At the same time being with the grandparents helps the children to learn the values and cultures Parents and grandparents were taken cared at home by the children .Due to the close relationship in the family, when somebody is admitted in the hospital ,a family can expect lot of visitors. Men are considered authoritative and powerful in Indian families. Modesty is of high value in this culture. Patients prefer same sex providers specially for deliveries and gynecological issues. In Indian culture people believe that health is related to mind, body and soul. In different regions of India traditional beliefs vary.A lot of people prefer to use “Ayurveda” as part of health and wellness. It is a form of alternative medicine. It is a holistic approach formulated to have longer healthy life to individuals. Use of Ayurvedic medicines and massages are very popular practice after childbirth, to restore the health and endurance. . Prenatal checkups and vaccinations are common. .Addressing mental health issues are difficult . Families consider having mental health problem in the family will affect the future of generation and ashamed to disclose mental health problem. Religious practices in India is different for each religion. Author‘s family is Christian, active in church and affiliated organizations. Like to incorporate religious practices and spirituality in daily life and believes health is to be taken cared by individuals by safe sex practice, avoiding alcohol, smoking and practicing healthy eating habits. Fish and vegetables are main food along with rice and wheat bread . Dietary evaluation along with assessment of physical characteristics that could point to any nutritional deficiency diseases in Indian patients. Indians who follow to be strict vegetarian, the choice of food specially for protein is limited. Upon interviewing the Mexican Hispanic family, parents of this particular family immigrated to the United States .This family is extended family where parents living with them. Religious beliefs are of Catholic ,practices and incorporates religion in daily life .Seek medical care only when sick. Regular pre natal checkups done during pregnancy, children vaccinated age appropriately. Many Mexicans in the United State are migrant workers. Extended families are common in their culture. Elders are respected and their wisdom is counted. Curative treatments are preferred by Mexicans. Medical services are not utilized well by Mexicans because of language barriers, inability to pay medical expenses., By tradition Prevention or promotion of health is not valued..There is a higher incidence of chronic illness like hypertension, Diabetes, and waiting to seek medical care until the illness has progressed(Neff 1998). Any health planning for Hispanic should be related to their beliefs. Patients can be taught with translators or printed Spanish versions. The extended family and community influence on health issues during pregnancy and delivery .Female family members tend to play important supportive role throughout pregnancy and post natal period. Children are usually cared by women in family with older children participation. Most of the Mexicans eat large meals. Traditional Mexican food includes rice and beans .Obesity is a common health issue in Mexicans. Churches and faith can be incorporated in heath prevention and promotion Religious and spiritual influences play good part in sickness. Parents of the babies who are admitted and particularly critically ill, prefer baptism of the child in hospital setting. Some leave prayer beads and pictures at bedside. Nurse should be able to understand and respect the value of this practices for getting trust . The Hispanic heritage believes widely on home remedies and seeks professional medical care only if there is physical injury or pain. The third family whom the writer interviewed is of American culture..The grandparents of the said person migrated to the United States in 1800’s from Russia. This person and family are Jewish by birth and practiced Jewish religion and celebrated festivals. Recently accepted to the Mormon Church. Still prefer to celebrate all Jewish festivals. The above interviewed person who is a co-worker to author living with her adopted son who is Hispanic. She have her biological children now living on their own. She got good involvement with her children and helps out for their financial and psychological needs. Recently separated from husband who is of same culture and religion .Family relationship extends to parents only. . She is Diabetic. Follow up regularly to checkups Concerning to diet and exercise, avoids simple sugars but like to eat fast foods. Not actively engaged in any exercise. Nurses are the most important health educators to promote health in the United States. Health maintenance is important to reach the target of healthy people 2020 .Physical activity and health is inter related. It can help to reduce the weight, thereby reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases,Type2 diabetes, reduce some types of cancers ,improve mental health, ,improve daily activities of older people and increase the chances of living longer. Learning what to eat and portion size is important in keeping a healthy diet. As part of nursing care plans prime importance to health education regarding lifestyle and healthy living should be included to attain the goal of healthy people 2020.Most of the Americans seek treatment for diseases ,exercise, healthy living. In conclusion Knowing the culture of the patient or the community that we are involved is important to maintain health promotion, health protection and health restoratiom”Heritage assessment tool” is a good resource for nurses to evaluate the patient and provide appropriate care in respect to the culture. “Prevention is better than cure’’. With the increasing number of culturally diverse population in the United states, nurses can help the community to maintain healthy life by knowing the culture and heritage. References Edelman, C., & Mandle, C. L. (2010). Health promotion. In St Louis, & Mosby (Eds.), Health promotion through out lifespan (7 ed.). [elsevier]. Indians culture health refugees immigrants. Indian health care beliefs and practices http://bearspace.baylor.edu/Charles Kemp/ww.indian.htm Kemp, C. (3/2005). Mexican & Mexicans-Americans;Health Beliefs & Practices []. bearspace.baylor.edu. Retrieved from www/hispanic health .htm Physical Activity for Everyone Retrieved from http;//www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/health/index