¶ … Nursing Two practice concepts specific to nursing:

Culturally-informed care for the 'person' and 'environment'

Two practice concepts specific to nursing:

Culturally-informed care for the 'person' and 'environment'

As a clinical nurse specialist (CNS), an advanced practice nurse "whose care focuses on a specific patient population," the concept of multicultural care is integral to my daily practice (CNS, 2011, career overview). "A CNS can specialize in certain types of diseases (such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease), can work in many different medical environments (such as operating room, emergency room or critical care), and can focus on a variety of procedures (such as surgical or clinical)" (CNS, 2011, career overview). Regardless of the specialty of the CNS the care he or she dispenses must be culturally appropriate and take into consideration the patient's daily environment. A CNS must often be even more conscious of the social implications of nursing care than nurses in other subspecialties because individuals within the CNS's practice may be dominated by a particular social segment and feature a predominant ethnic group. Of the four core nursing concepts, that of person, environment, health, and nursing, the ideas of the 'person' and the 'environment' are especially relevant to a CNS.

For example, for CNSs specializing in diabetes, the nurse must be aware that individuals from poor and disadvantaged backgrounds are often more apt to manifest the condition, given their lack of access to healthy food, places to exercise, and knowledge about appropriate nutrition. "More than half of women 45-64 years old with diabetes have an annual family income of less than $20,000, and 28.5% have...

This compares with 30.5% and 11.3% respectively for women without diabetes" (Diabetes and women's health, 2011, CDC). The nurse must be able to dispense culturally appropriate advice to the patient, given the limits of the patient's environment and personal circumstances. Instead of simply recommending a low-calorie diet, the nurse must ensure that the healthy, prescribed diet is within the patient's likely food budget. Exercise recommendations should be given with the awareness that the patient may not have access to a gym. Suggesting walking more often and making daily tasks more aerobic would be more feasible suggestions. Understanding the stressors upon the 'person' are not merely individualized, and locating the person within a context of culturally-appropriate care is essential to ensure that the treatment plan is feasible and will be followed.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, Latinos and African-Americans, American Indian, and Pacific Islanders for historical, economic, and genetic reasons are 2-4 times more likely to manifest diabetes than other populations. Thus culturally appropriate care with regard to patient tastes is also vital when making suggestions about diet. The nurse must make suggestions that are attractive for the patient, given the nurse's knowledge of the patient's preferences and expectations regarding food and eating habits. The concept of 'person' extends beyond the person's body or individual psychology and acknowledges the social influences shaping that person. There must also be an awareness about culture regarding specifics such as the likely viewpoint of the appropriateness of women and girls exercising (some cultures might be resistant to this idea) and the role of women in preparing food in…