Indigenous & Culture Specific Practice

Question 1

Cultural sensitivity

Answer 1

• knowledge, awareness & acceptance of other cultures
• acknowledging cultural differences exist, without assigning values of right or wrong to those differences
• being sensitive and understanding of different cultures, assessing internal values
• being aware of different cultural characteristics that there may be frequent contact with, knowing about history, beliefs and behaviors

Question 2

Cultural Competence

Answer 2

• set of behaviors, attitudes and policies that come together in a service and enable that service to work effectively in cross-cultural situations
• more than an awareness of differences, focuses on the capacity of the health system to improve health and wellbeing by integrating culture into healthcare delivery

Question 3

Cultural Safety

Answer 3

• effective nursing practice of someone from a different culture who has reflected and recognises the impact their own culture can have on practice
• acknowledgement and respect of cultural differences
• being culturally unsafe implies diminishing, demeaning or disempowering cultural identity and wellbeing of an individual

Question 4

Cultural Respect

Answer 4

• recognising, protecting and advancing rights and cultures of people from differing backgrounds
• about shared respect, creating a safe environment for people from other cultures, upholding clients rights, maintain and protect their culture, achieve equitable health outcomes

Question 5

Indigenous risk factors

Answer 5

• less likely to be employed, own a home, overrepresented in supported accomodation for homeless, experience higher death rates & are at higher risk of mental illness
• have had to manage years of colonisation, trauma of dispossession, removal of children, abuse & violence

Question 6

Indigenous mental health

Answer 6

• prefer to use the term social and emotional well being
• concept of health includes well being of the individual as well as the family & community in which they live
• where possible, assess / manage in their own community, visit them rather than have them visit services
• allow the person to tell their story at their own pace, avoid forcing information out of them
• gender issues, some things men cannot discuss with women, etc
• avoid asking sensitive questions
• use traditional healers, medications may be viewed with skepticism
• may present differently, need spirituality included in MSE
  
  • spirituality
  • appearance - may have different standards
  • behaviour - may have differences in what is considered acceptable, avoid making assumptions
  • thought form - may have not recieved adequate education, english may not be first language
  • thought content - need to assess if thought patterns make sense within a cultural framework, is this normal thinking for a particular culture
  • affect - showing emotion is a sign of weakness, may present as reserved even when discussing happy / sad events
  • attention & concentration - may have altered levels of knowledge, education, different opinions on what is considered general knowledge
  • orientation - may have altered perception of what time is, rephrase question where appropriate
  • memory - ensure topics used are appropriate and familiar to the consumer
  • intelligence - cultural and educational differences
  • insight - understanding of mental health is different, have different views

Question 7

Culture

Answer 7

• major determinant of beliefs, morals and customs, and consequently behaviour
• concept used to encompass behaviour patterns and lifestyle of a society
• Culture is a broad term which refers to the way in which a person views the world, the ethnic background they are from and the beliefs and behaviours they consider to be a fundamental part of their lives