Relationships and expectations in interpersonal dynamics

¶ … Christy had some preconceived notions about Roamni people and their motivations, habits, and lifestyle. Being proactive rather than reactive is the best way to deal with different cultural practices and beliefs. Christy could educate herself regarding the cultural practices of bathing, cleanliness, eating etc. This information is available on the internet. Typically when faced with medical condition that a nurse, aide or physician is unfamiliar with it is a common practice to research it. This practice should extend to dealing with certain cultural groups one has not encountered. Obviously, she should have changed the water, sponge, and washed herself after touching the patient's lower body in clear view of the patient's relatives. Perhaps a better approach would have been to offer the patient's family the opportunity to participate in the care of the patient and perform some of these functions or to ask them how she should care for the patient. The staff should discuss all important decisions with the male figures, particularly male relatives of the patient. Likewise, female nurses, physicians, etc. should try not to discuss matters with male relatives. A communication liaison should be established between the hospital and the patient's father or other important male relatives in order to handle emergency decisions.

The thing that is most surprising here is that a hospital, even one in a relatively culturally homogeneous area, would not s staff have a program for to promote cultural competence. These cases serve to remind me that we tend to react to unfamiliarity with others by criticism, closed mindedness, attributing the cause of the tension to the other group rather than trying to understand how our actions are being perceived in their eyes. In psychology this is termed the fundamental attribution error, it is the tendency to explain the actions of others in terms of their personalities as opposed understanding how the situation contributed to their actions. It makes me realize how important it is to take my time and think through things, check my own thoughts, and realize that others do not always perceive the world as I do. As I was performing the exercises I was struck at how narrow-minded that Christy, her organization, and all cultures are concerning different viewpoints. It is easy not to be open-minded but requires work and a genuine desire to understand others. Christy, like most of us, fell into that trap.