Culture Health Practice: Puerto Rico
What is culture? Culture carries a different meaning for different ethnicities. Generally, culture means a set of values, standards, beliefs, art and practices shared by a particular group. Puerto Rico, being the third largest island in the United States, resides 3.548 million citizens with Hispanic/Latino being the primary ethnicity group. Although some people confuse Hispanic/Latino as being two separate ethnicities, they are fairly the same and share same beliefs and practices. Hispanic simply means, Spanish speaker and is derived from Spanish speaking countries such as Puerto Rico, while Latino means people who are from Latin America. With that being said, people that are from Puerto Rico or other …show more content…
Family plays a big role within the Latino community and they shouldn’t be left out. Family in the Latino community can include nuclear, extended, non-relatives, friends, church members and neighbors who play a role in their lives. Health care providers should set up family meetings to establish the role of the primary caregiver and recommend how other family members can help and support the patient. Always have Spanish handouts and/or Spanish speaking audiotapes prepared when teaching about the disease or issues related to the …show more content…
A nurse should always keep an open mind and don’t show disrespect to other culture religions. It is important that a nurse has somewhat of general knowledge when it comes to any religion that doesn’t coincide with their own.
Hispanic/Latino elders tend to cope better with death than other ethnicities. According to Every Culture: Puerto Rico (2015), the use of Hospice services are lower and the lack of knowledge about Hospice programs is the reason. According to Love to Know: Hispanic Culture of Death and Dying (2015), terminally ill patients resist the idea of getting put into a nursing home and would rather die at home with a family member by their side.
Conclusion
Developing a central understanding of Latino patients creates a connective and helpful relationship between nurse and patient. Hispanic/Latino patients should be treated as individuals first while exploring and developing any culture differences. Having general knowledge about different cultures bridge the culture gap and result in better and effective care.
What is culture? Culture carries a different meaning for different ethnicities. Generally, culture means a set of values, standards, beliefs, art and practices shared by a particular group. Puerto Rico, being the third largest island in the United States, resides 3.548 million citizens with Hispanic/Latino being the primary ethnicity group. Although some people confuse Hispanic/Latino as being two separate ethnicities, they are fairly the same and share same beliefs and practices. Hispanic simply means, Spanish speaker and is derived from Spanish speaking countries such as Puerto Rico, while Latino means people who are from Latin America. With that being said, people that are from Puerto Rico or other …show more content…
Family plays a big role within the Latino community and they shouldn’t be left out. Family in the Latino community can include nuclear, extended, non-relatives, friends, church members and neighbors who play a role in their lives. Health care providers should set up family meetings to establish the role of the primary caregiver and recommend how other family members can help and support the patient. Always have Spanish handouts and/or Spanish speaking audiotapes prepared when teaching about the disease or issues related to the …show more content…
A nurse should always keep an open mind and don’t show disrespect to other culture religions. It is important that a nurse has somewhat of general knowledge when it comes to any religion that doesn’t coincide with their own.
Hispanic/Latino elders tend to cope better with death than other ethnicities. According to Every Culture: Puerto Rico (2015), the use of Hospice services are lower and the lack of knowledge about Hospice programs is the reason. According to Love to Know: Hispanic Culture of Death and Dying (2015), terminally ill patients resist the idea of getting put into a nursing home and would rather die at home with a family member by their side.
Conclusion
Developing a central understanding of Latino patients creates a connective and helpful relationship between nurse and patient. Hispanic/Latino patients should be treated as individuals first while exploring and developing any culture differences. Having general knowledge about different cultures bridge the culture gap and result in better and effective care.