Lesson's Learned: Hispanic and Latino Culture
Before I discuss cultural practices, I think is important to understand the difference between Hispanics and Latinos. According to Marcia Carteret in the Dimensions of Culture she explained that the term, "Latino denotes all persons living in the United States whose origins can be traced to the Spanish-speaking regions of Latin America, including the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and South America." Whereas the term "Hispanic" mainly focuses on the Spanish-speaking origin. Simply put... Being Hispanic is based on if you or family speaks the Spanish language, and latino is based off of geographic location. It is important not to immediately assume one is Hispanic simply because they speak spanish.
Within the Hispanic and Latino culture, family is very important. Throughout history, these cultures value family relationships and the role of each family member. For example, one's status within the family is based off one's age and gender. The role of the father in both cultures is believed to be occupied with respect and authority. Because a father is thought to be strong, honorable, courageous, the father is ultimately responsible for providing and protecting the family. Traditional practices of males have encouraged fathers to uphold the ideal of "Machismo." This term refers to aggressive and masculine attributes, men were expected to live up to. Because of this common traditional practice, women were also expected to honour male figures by showing respect and submission to husbands and fathers. Another common cultural practice among Latinos, is their concept of time. It is common within this culture to have a very relaxed and laid back attitude towards time. Most Latinos do not value punctuality and think of time as flexible, this mindset is very accepted within the Latino community. Within healthcare it will be common to see this types of cultural practices.
#nursingbyCOURTNEY.... How to apply this cultural knowledge to your nursing practice
It's no surprise that our country has become immersed with many different cultures and ethnicities. Thus the reason for nurses to learn how to be culturally competent. In 2004, it has been estimated that 55.3 million Hispanics reside in the US, which comprises of 17.3% of the total population in the United States. Knowing that these statistics are drastically increasing, it would be wise for healthcare professionals to understand the importance of respecting and recognizing cultural diverse individuals. Additionally, understanding basic cultural practices of Hispanic and Latino cultures will be a helpful component in practicing culturally competent care. I believe it will be especially important to recognize the role family plays within this culture. Because Latinos and Hispanics make decisions as a family, it will be important for the nurse to include teaching to the patient and family members. I believe if we involve the family members in the plan of care, establishing and building trust will become easier and patients may be more compliant.
Courtney's "Two-Cent's"
Like I stated previously, our country is drastically changing and becoming more and more diverse. I believe it is up to us healthcare professionals, to become more educated on different cultures to know better how to practice culturally competent care. I also believe if we are able to identify cultural patterns, our care will be more individualized to meet our patient's overall needs.
This week as I was researching more about this culture, I started reflecting on WHY I became a nurse. I'm sure I'm not the only nursing student who feels completely overwhelmed with the heavy workload demands. But through it all, I've developed a new way of viewing people. Instead of seeing individuals with a problem to fix, I see people as someone's daughter, friend, brother, etc. I see people as...individuals who matter. This week I was reminded why it's important for me to continue learning about different cultures so I can help make people feel like they matter. This is one of the reasons why I am working so hard to become a nurse. I want to make a difference in individual's lives, and aid in holistic healing and well-being.
References:
http://www.dimensionsofculture.com/2011/03/cultural-values-of-latino-patients-and-families/
Statistics from: http://www.pewhispanic.org/2016/04/19/statistical-portrait-of-hispanics-in-the-united-states-key-charts/
Pictures from: http://reachhispanic.com/2012/03/21/young-latinas-move-out-while-young-latinos-move-back-home/multi-generational-hispanic-family-preparing-food/
http://intranet.tdmu.edu.ua/data/kafedra/internal/i_nurse/classes_stud/ADN%20Program/Full%20time%20study/First%20year/fundamentals%20of%20nursing%20practicum/23.%20Caring%20in%20Nursing%20Practice...htm
https://www.theodysseyonline.com/tackling-the-lack-of-latino-representation-in-the-media
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