Culture and Health Assessment free essay sample

A study of the importance of health assessments and the cultural issues involved. This paper outlines a theoretical background of the importance of health assessments. The writer claims that health assessment is a basic criterion for recording patient information, of which cultural assessment is also an important part. The paper discusses six cultural phenomena that nurses must understand and practice to ensure effective patient care. To substantiate this study, the paper provides a model for health (and cultural) assessment an indigenous female in a maternity ward. The commercial nature of medical care in institutions today forces medical practitioners to adopt a highly professional and impersonal attitude towards patients. This clinical attitude towards patients has been the result of standardization of medical processes. Studies indicate [Leininger, 1991] that personal care provides critical information regarding the patient, enabling doctors and nurses to diagnose patients illness effectively. In a multicultural environment like Australia, treatment of ethnic patients requires such personal care. We will write a custom essay sample on Culture and Health Assessment or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page However, nurses who interact with patients, operate without having knowledge of the cultural background of their patients, are in danger of violating professional code of conduct. There is a need for cultural assessment along with health assessment for effective inter ethnic relationship building between patients and nurses. To achieve that, data pertaining to the patients culture within the context of the disease is required. This could only be achieved through a health assessment.