Culture DiversityCulture Diversity

By By

Evelyn Stone, RN., BSN., Evelyn Stone, RN., BSN., M.Ed.M.Ed.

Definition of CultureDefinition of Culture

Shared Values, beliefs, and Shared Values, beliefs, and practices of a particular group of practices of a particular group of people which are transmitted people which are transmitted from one generation to another.from one generation to another.

Patterns that guide the thinking Patterns that guide the thinking & action of the group& action of the group

ContinuedContinued

Patterns are learned from birth Patterns are learned from birth through socialization and the through socialization and the environment.environment.

Scope of CultureScope of Culture

The concept of The concept of cultureculture represents represents

differing ranges of human differing ranges of human behaviors, products, and behaviors, products, and institutions to people with institutions to people with differing experiential differing experiential backgrounds. backgrounds.

ContinuedContinued

Culture includes all of the rules Culture includes all of the rules for appropriate behavior which for appropriate behavior which are learned by people in the same are learned by people in the same group. group.

Culture must be understood, Culture must be understood, accepted, and accounted for in accepted, and accounted for in our work settings. our work settings.

Health Care CultureHealth Care Culture

Set of norms – developed over timeSet of norms – developed over time Values – sense of worthValues – sense of worth Ceremonies – events celebrating successCeremonies – events celebrating success Symbols – outward sign of successSymbols – outward sign of success Unwritten Rules – things that you knowUnwritten Rules – things that you know Unwritten expectation – to fit inUnwritten expectation – to fit in Stories – group presentations of the Stories – group presentations of the

hospital/setting history; recognize hospital/setting history; recognize people’s contributions to health carepeople’s contributions to health care

Who Makes up the Who Makes up the Health Care Team Health Care Team

Culture?Culture? NursesNurses AdministratorsAdministrators ParentsParents DoctorsDoctors People in the communityPeople in the community And other team membersAnd other team members

Positive Health Care Positive Health Care CulturesCultures

Value learningValue learning Work to improve and enhance facilityWork to improve and enhance facility Focus on the clientsFocus on the clients Shared sense of purpose & valuesShared sense of purpose & values Commitment to a responsibility for the Commitment to a responsibility for the

learning of all the clientslearning of all the clients Continuous learning and improvementContinuous learning and improvement Share ideasShare ideas

Toxic Health Care Toxic Health Care CulturesCultures

Impede changeImpede change Unable to ‘fit in’Unable to ‘fit in’ Unable to communicate with each other or team Unable to communicate with each other or team

membersmembers Resist changeResist change Facility/unit l does not value professional developmentFacility/unit l does not value professional development Unable to understand the facility cultureUnable to understand the facility culture Negative attitudeNegative attitude No clear sense of purposeNo clear sense of purpose Blame others for lack of progressBlame others for lack of progress Nothing is done to turn around negativityNothing is done to turn around negativity

Culture NomenclatureCulture Nomenclature

Enculturation -Enculturation - the process for individuals acquiring a the process for individuals acquiring a second culture. second culture.

Acculturation -Acculturation - the addition of a second set of rules for the addition of a second set of rules for behavior which may coexist beside the first, replace them, behavior which may coexist beside the first, replace them, or modify them.or modify them.

Assimilation - merger of cultures until they are Assimilation - merger of cultures until they are

indistinguishable.indistinguishable.

Melting pot – indistinguishable values, beliefs, that are Melting pot – indistinguishable values, beliefs, that are indistinguishable.indistinguishable.

Biculturalism - the selective maintenance and use of both Biculturalism - the selective maintenance and use of both cultural systems. cultural systems.

Culture DiversityCulture Diversity

Staff must understand traditions Staff must understand traditions for ethnic identity, but the for ethnic identity, but the objectives for developing positive objectives for developing positive self-concepts through bicultural self-concepts through bicultural education will be negated if the education will be negated if the actual culture of home and actual culture of home and community is ignored.community is ignored.

Culture DiversityCulture Diversity(continued)(continued)

A health care worker must be A health care worker must be knowledgeable of cultural knowledgeable of cultural diversity.diversity.

Must have some understanding of Must have some understanding of the values and beliefs of the the values and beliefs of the clients.clients.

Culture DiversityCulture Diversity(Continued)(Continued)

People are categorized according to skin People are categorized according to skin color and other physical characteristics.color and other physical characteristics.

By the amount of money they earn.By the amount of money they earn.

Where they live.Where they live.

Where they work.Where they work.

Culture DiversityCulture Diversity(continued)(continued)

Many may wish or need to Many may wish or need to function as members of more function as members of more than one group and be than one group and be 'bicultural.’'bicultural.’

Function according to cultural Function according to cultural knowledge, behaviors, and knowledge, behaviors, and identity.identity.

SummarySummary

Health Care Providers must understand culture Health Care Providers must understand culture of the clients and the facility or community of the clients and the facility or community culture in order to be an effective team player. culture in order to be an effective team player.

Health Care Providers must have some Health Care Providers must have some knowledge of the client’s rights and this will knowledge of the client’s rights and this will guide them in making a decision about issues guide them in making a decision about issues that may arise.that may arise.

Staff must be able to respect the values and Staff must be able to respect the values and beliefs of groups for in the work setting the beliefs of groups for in the work setting the facility has clients from different areas and facility has clients from different areas and different beliefs that may impact how they may different beliefs that may impact how they may respond to treatment. When an issue comes up respond to treatment. When an issue comes up that is very complicated, the staff member must that is very complicated, the staff member must refer the problem to the director or owner for refer the problem to the director or owner for resolution.resolution.

Summary (continued)Summary (continued)

Directors and staff members must be Directors and staff members must be knowledgeable of cases to be able to knowledgeable of cases to be able to work with the public effectively and work with the public effectively and resolve issues satisfactorily. Staff must resolve issues satisfactorily. Staff must understand the facility culture and the understand the facility culture and the culture of the staff in order to be an culture of the staff in order to be an effective staff member. One must have effective staff member. One must have the same value system as the the same value system as the administration to be an effective Hab administration to be an effective Hab tech.tech.

ReferenceReference

Peterson, K., (2002) Positive or Peterson, K., (2002) Positive or negative? negative? Journal of staff Journal of staff development, development, 23, (3), retrieved 23, (3), retrieved 16 May 2007 from 16 May 2007 from www.nsdc.org/library/publicationwww.nsdc.org/library/publications/jsd/peterson23.cfms/jsd/peterson23.cfm

ConclusionConclusion

How to contact Instructor:How to contact Instructor:

Evelyn Stone, RN., BSN, M.Ed.Evelyn Stone, RN., BSN, M.Ed.

1008 Big Oak Court, Ste F1008 Big Oak Court, Ste F

Knightdale, NC 27545Knightdale, NC 27545

Cell 268-1012 Office 266-7050Cell 268-1012 Office 266-7050