Kelly J Wilson Page 1

4140880602 Assessment Activity 2 Cultural Diversity

Task 1: Select four different cultural groups and discuss how you would
implement nursing interventions in the areas of >
• Physical contact
• Hygiene
• Eye contact
• Food type & preparation

ANS: With every culture not one is the same, so it is vital that you
have basic nursing interventions and procedures whilst having some
knowledge of basic customs in a range of cultures when dealing with service
users in the health system.

With some people, if physical contact is needed it necessary to ask for

permission as they may have cultural rules between genders. For example a
male nurse needs to take a sample of blood from the wife of the Iranian
gentlemen and the husband is up arms when he try’s to enter the room, in
Iran any physical contact between genders should not occur as it is
disrespectful.

The way to overcome this is by talking to the husband what is needed to be

done and do in his presence at the same time preserving the wife’s dignity by
only have the area needed on the arm exposed whilst all other area’s are
covered in accordance with the husbands requests.

A culture such as the Muslims hygiene is very important to them as they

believe that cleanliness is a high priority in their religion, if a service user is
bed bound and a bed bath is required, the gender of the service user is
female and the nurse is male this circumstance is not permissible.

To overcome this problem you can leave a bowl of water by the beside with
soap and a cloth if the person is able to oneself if not, you can arrange a
nurse of the same gender to assist the person. This can also occur in
Caucasians cultures too.

In the culture that pride themselves on respect giving eye contact is

considered to be very rude and shows the person whom you are talking to
that you are not taking any interest in them can sometimes be
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4140880602 Assessment Activity 2 Cultural Diversity

misinterpreted by the Caucasian world. Chinese believe to show respect you

must look down and give no emotional expression to the person you are
talking to, if you ask the person about their culture in regards to
communication they will only be to happy to tell you as it may help you to
better care for the person.

As most Middle Eastern cultures there are strict diet regimes they must
follow, for the Arab’s their diet has no pork and will only eat Halal meat.

As most Arab’s are shy, have a fear of rejection or a lack of knowledge some
Arab’s service users will not ask for different meals it is important to ask
them what type of meals do they prefer so that you can notify the kitchen.

Taking the time asking the patient about their cultural background will help
you help them heal the quickest way possible.
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4140880602 Assessment Activity 2 Cultural Diversity

References

Galanti G.A.: Caring for Patients from Different Cultures. University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia,
1991

Laffrey, S.C., A.I. Meleis, J.G. Lipson, M. Solomon and P.A. Omidian. "Arab-American Health Care
Needs." Social Science and Medicine 29(7): 877-83 (1989).

Lipson, J.G., A.E. Reizian and A.I. Meleis. "Arab-American Patients: A Medical Record Review." Social
Science and Medicine 24(2): 101-07 (1987).

Meleis, A.I. "The Arab American in the Health Care System." American Journal of Nursing 81(6): 1180-83
(June 1981).
1 Najah Bazzy R.N.

(n.d), Middle Eastern Community. Arab Culture. Retreaved 10/5/2008, from

http://www.culturediversity.org/mide.htm

The Iran Virtual Library. (2008). Iran’s Customs Cited 09/05/2008 from
http://www.irvl.net/iranian-customs/

Australian Government, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Iran Embassy (n.d.)
Local information. Cited 10/05/2008 from
http://www.iran.embassy.gov.au/tran/relations.html

Jeffreys, Marianne (n.d). CULTURAL COMPETENCE IN CLINICAL PRACTICE.

Retreaved 10/05/2008 from http://209.85.141.104/search?
q=cache:1xtV2LDgb9EJ:www.nsna.org/pubs/imprint/febmar06/impfeb_features_jeffreys
.pdf+chinese+beliefs+and+values:
+eye+contact&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=9&gl=au&client=firefox-a

Hamston, J. and Murdoch, K. (2004) Australia Kaleidoscope, Curriculum

Corporation, Vic., ISBN 1863665846. In particular – see Chapter three –
Buddhism and Chapter four – Chinese medicine

Coleman, Jennifer. (n.d). Cultural Considerations, Health Assesment. Retrieved

10/05/2008 from http://209.85.141.104/search?q=cache:CkUu9M-
vmAoJ:nursing.atu.edu/people/coleman/Cultural%2520Considerations
%2520lecture.ppt+chinese+beliefs+and+values:
+eye+contact&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=4&gl=au&client=firefox-a
Tasmanian Government, Department of Education. (n.d). Whose Values do You Value?
Retrieved 10/05/2008 from http://resources.education.tas.gov.au/item/edres/41bdd5bc-
fced-3bb2-e552-b2d010020364/1/
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4140880602 Assessment Activity 2 Cultural Diversity