Access to culturally safe and quality healthcare is a significant problem for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Therefore, by taking a person-centred approach will not only allow patients to be directly involved in their care, but also take into account their cultural and individual needs. In this essay I will discuss my personal experiences as well the past experiences of Mrs Akajen which may influence the establishment of a nurse-person therapeutic relationship (N-PTR). I will also discuss and critically analyse how I as a nursing student would achieve and provide culturally safe care, and various nursing strategies I would implement to ensure I establish and maintain a nurse-person therapeutic relationship (N-PTR) with Mrs Akajen
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experience far worse health in comparison to non-Indigenous people and face many barriers which impact on their ability to access safe and quality healthcare (Commonwealth of Australia, 2012). Various factors, including age, language and communication, previous experiences, and various social determinants should be considered when establishing a therapeutic relationship (Australian Health Ministers Advisory Council, 2011). As seen in the case study Mrs Akajen is 76 years old and she is multilingual with English being her second language. Many older Indigenous Australians are knowledge-keepers and continuers of Indigenous history and culture, such as language (Benevolent Society, 2013). Due to Mrs Akajen’s age and English being her second language, when caring for her I might have difficulties communicating with her as she is probably used to speaking in her own language (Benevolent Society, 2013). Language and communication are major barriers when it comes to caring for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, therefore this may influence how I establish a therapeutic relationship with Mrs Akajen (Shahid, Durey, Bessarab, Aoun, & Thompson, 2013). Previous experiences of healthcare can also influence how we establish a nurse-person therapeutic relationship with a person. If Mrs Akajen …show more content…
Cultural safety is the effective nursing practice of a person or family from another culture which safely meets their needs, expectations and rights (Faulty of Health, 2013). A culturally safe and secure environment is one where people feel spiritually, socially, physically and emotionally safe and draw strength in their identity, culture and community (Australian Human Rights Commission, 2011). The concept of health means different things to different people, therefore as a student nurse I need to reflect on my own cultural identity and recognise the impact that it can have on my nursing practice and caring for people of a different culture (Kingsley, et.al, 2013). We base our standards of health on our own past and current circumstances as well as the health of others. Factors such as our behaviour, lifestyle, past and current level of health, our environment, our attitudes about health conveyed by peers, family and the media, stereotypical beliefs, living conditions, fitness levels and health behaviours of different groups all influence my perception of health. These factors differ from that of the perception of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders such as Mrs Akajen. To them health is about so much more than just the
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experience far worse health in comparison to non-Indigenous people and face many barriers which impact on their ability to access safe and quality healthcare (Commonwealth of Australia, 2012). Various factors, including age, language and communication, previous experiences, and various social determinants should be considered when establishing a therapeutic relationship (Australian Health Ministers Advisory Council, 2011). As seen in the case study Mrs Akajen is 76 years old and she is multilingual with English being her second language. Many older Indigenous Australians are knowledge-keepers and continuers of Indigenous history and culture, such as language (Benevolent Society, 2013). Due to Mrs Akajen’s age and English being her second language, when caring for her I might have difficulties communicating with her as she is probably used to speaking in her own language (Benevolent Society, 2013). Language and communication are major barriers when it comes to caring for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, therefore this may influence how I establish a therapeutic relationship with Mrs Akajen (Shahid, Durey, Bessarab, Aoun, & Thompson, 2013). Previous experiences of healthcare can also influence how we establish a nurse-person therapeutic relationship with a person. If Mrs Akajen …show more content…
Cultural safety is the effective nursing practice of a person or family from another culture which safely meets their needs, expectations and rights (Faulty of Health, 2013). A culturally safe and secure environment is one where people feel spiritually, socially, physically and emotionally safe and draw strength in their identity, culture and community (Australian Human Rights Commission, 2011). The concept of health means different things to different people, therefore as a student nurse I need to reflect on my own cultural identity and recognise the impact that it can have on my nursing practice and caring for people of a different culture (Kingsley, et.al, 2013). We base our standards of health on our own past and current circumstances as well as the health of others. Factors such as our behaviour, lifestyle, past and current level of health, our environment, our attitudes about health conveyed by peers, family and the media, stereotypical beliefs, living conditions, fitness levels and health behaviours of different groups all influence my perception of health. These factors differ from that of the perception of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders such as Mrs Akajen. To them health is about so much more than just the