If Maori are getting less, non-Māori are getting more. In New Zealand, direct evidence links personal experience of racial discrimination to poorer health outcomes. Racism is at the heart of ethnic and racial disparities in health and healthcare around the world. The fact that anyone should experience racial discrimination is an unacceptable breach of human rights. Evidence suggests most Maori are getting good services from health professionals witch is a good start to achieving equity however a sizeable number of Maori feel health care workers have negative attitudes towards them influencing them to avoid health care in the future this factor leading to worse health …show more content…
Through reflecting on my culture I can identify my personal cultural practices that could possibly offend Maori patients. Reflecting on my actions as a student nurse allows me to practice in a non-prejudice manner providing a clinically and culturally competent environment with more successful health outcome for Maori patients. To provide this environment I as student nurse need to grow respectful relationships with my Maori patients and gain knowledge of their Maori cultural practices. I can acknowledge that being admitted to hospital is a traumatic event for many Maori. Maori who are hospitalised may be kilometres away from their homes and the support of their local extended whanau making them more vulnerable to perceiving racism during there hospital stay. Many families don’t have the resources to support relatives while they are in hospital especially when major health facilities are so far away from home, admission to hospital can put strains on families who are already stretched to the limit making the patient more vulnerable during there hospital stay. An increased quality of care and support during this time of vulnerability from nurses and hospital staff can lead to equitable health outcomes. For example I as a student nurse could be more inviting to allow whanau to stay with the patient during the night and sorting a single room so this can be made possible.