Bereavement practices vary depending on a person’s cultural background. If a cultural tradition or practice is overlooked or not done, it can have a devastating impact on the person or persons grieving and result in unresolved loss and lack of closure (Minority Nurse, 2013). People of various cultural backgrounds hold the expectation that healthcare workers understand their culture. Care can be viewed view in a negative way if one is insensitive to a person’s unique needs. When patients and their families and healthcare workers come from different cultures, poor communication and misunderstandings can occur (Minority Nurse, 2013). Understanding different cultures and beliefs begins by avoiding generalizations. Do not “assume” all members
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African Americans rely on spirituality and their belief in God along with life experiences to deal with life-changing events. Spirituality and experiences are used as coping mechanisms to help them through grief and bereavement. African Americans tend to share and interact with someone who shares in or is sensitive to their culture. Initially, they may appear unaffected by their loss, but will soon share their feelings with someone they feel they can trust. Older African Americans may distrust the majority culture and the health care system itself based on life experiences. Grieving African American patients may find it easier to communicate with an African American health care provider during this difficult time (Minority Nurse, 2013). The Hispanic population within the United States originates from a wide variety of countries, including Mexico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Chili, Brazil, Argentina, Peru and the U.S. Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (Minority Nurse, 2013). Cultural practices related to grief and bereavement can vary widely within this population. Hispanics expect health care providers to be caring and warm and to interact with them in that manner. Hispanics tend to trust the individual provider rather than a hospital system approach to care (Minority Nurse, …show more content…
The American Indians and Aboriginal people, such as Inuit and First Nations, in Canada and Alaska use the medicine wheel to maintain balance and harmony in life (Kazanowski, 2013; NLM, 2011). The Medicine Wheel contains the Four Directions along with Father Sky, Mother Earth, and Spirit Tree that symbolize health and the cycles of life. Movement in the Medicine Wheel is circular, in a clockwise direction to help align the forces of nature, such as gravity and the rising and setting of the sun. Each tribe may interpret the wheel differently and each of the four directions is represented by a different color such as black, red, yellow, and white. The directions also represent other aspects, including the
African Americans rely on spirituality and their belief in God along with life experiences to deal with life-changing events. Spirituality and experiences are used as coping mechanisms to help them through grief and bereavement. African Americans tend to share and interact with someone who shares in or is sensitive to their culture. Initially, they may appear unaffected by their loss, but will soon share their feelings with someone they feel they can trust. Older African Americans may distrust the majority culture and the health care system itself based on life experiences. Grieving African American patients may find it easier to communicate with an African American health care provider during this difficult time (Minority Nurse, 2013). The Hispanic population within the United States originates from a wide variety of countries, including Mexico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Chili, Brazil, Argentina, Peru and the U.S. Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (Minority Nurse, 2013). Cultural practices related to grief and bereavement can vary widely within this population. Hispanics expect health care providers to be caring and warm and to interact with them in that manner. Hispanics tend to trust the individual provider rather than a hospital system approach to care (Minority Nurse, …show more content…
The American Indians and Aboriginal people, such as Inuit and First Nations, in Canada and Alaska use the medicine wheel to maintain balance and harmony in life (Kazanowski, 2013; NLM, 2011). The Medicine Wheel contains the Four Directions along with Father Sky, Mother Earth, and Spirit Tree that symbolize health and the cycles of life. Movement in the Medicine Wheel is circular, in a clockwise direction to help align the forces of nature, such as gravity and the rising and setting of the sun. Each tribe may interpret the wheel differently and each of the four directions is represented by a different color such as black, red, yellow, and white. The directions also represent other aspects, including the