Culturally sound nursing

      Polynesian culture is yet another wide-reaching description for many varieties of people. I chose to focus on their religious side, more specifically on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, which makes up 60% of certain Polynesian populations. I found how deeply integrated moral values are in their culture and the synchronicity of their religion and cultural ideals.     Other students highlighted variations between differing Polynesian cultures. Many often forget that Hawaiin culture is a part of this family and has somewhat influenced its integration into the United States. Each culture has its own subculture, we are therefore responsible to remain aware of this and not based cultural understandings on specific portions of nationality, race, or groups.

      The topic of Asian culture does not well define a specific group of people. For example, Japanese Culture and Thai culture are quite different despite their proximity. This allowed for a larger view of cultural research. I focused on the agricultural aspect of East Asian culture and the impact of rice. Rice farming is an intensely demanding agricultural tradition that has shaped the culture of this population. Another student focused her insights on the country of Laos, perhaps a lesser-known group in comparison to the larger Asian countries.      Each country within a continent has its own defined culture. From city to city or state to state, one can learn of the communal practices that are often celebrated by a people. 

     In both religion, heritage, culture, and nationality characteristics, the Jewish culture is rich with history and beauty of tradition. In my personal research, I was able to learn more about Yiddish culture and language. As a part of Jewish culture, the Yiddish language has grown and fallen throughout history. Despite a fall in its presence due to the tragedy of the Holocaust, Yiddish speaking groups have grown and arisen in recent decades, especially resonating with Millenials and Gen-Xers. Other students revealed more tragic facts regarding the Holocaust and highlighted the significance of a Kosher diet.      The Jewish culture retains many ancient traditions from a vast history of culture and beliefs tied to the Law of Moses. Through increased educational pursuits, I have begun to grasp some of their cultural treasures.

      My research led me to recognize the meaning behind the term "powwow" in relation to Native American Culture. These social gatherings are of high importance for celebrations of unity. Traditional powwows are intratribal, consisting of gathering and close-communal celebrations. Contest powwows are intertribral, focusing on dance and sport competitions in a wider population, often with cash prizes. These celebrations have contnued on today, keeping a traditional spirit among the changing world. Other students highlighted local issues and charateristics of this culture. Knowing that Utah is home to many of thes people inspires further education to know more about their culture and how we can best recognize their cultural specificalities. 

      I chose an article focused on the psychological care for Latino patients for this week's cultural discussion. This revealed many significant aspects unto me regarding their cultural struggles, especially among the immigrants to the US. Financial and other associated income worries remain a burden to this population in addition to the worries of immigration such as language blockades, family separation, and general discrimination due to ignorant stereotypes.     Other students highlighted the positive aspects of this culture. Family and close relationships remain of the highest importance to the majority of this population. Knowing this, we can work towards applying genuine care to these patients and seek to achieve such a level of close familiarity in order to bridge communication gaps that may exist. Learning to care for each patient population according to their personal needs and preferences will allow for the increased therapeutic communication needed ...

    Islamic culture is often associated with many misconceptions that distort the beauty of this culture and its associated qualities. Islamic culture and the Muslim faith are located throughout the world and many of these individuals will most likely play a part in my personal healthcare future, especially due to their rising membership.      Their roots are based on those similar to the Christian and Jewish faiths but differ in their prophetic lineage through Muhammed and the scriptural text - the Quran. Many individuals of this faith still hold tight to traditional gender roles in careers and lifestyle types alike. This must be recognized to avoid offense and assumption of any incorrect formalities. Diet and fasting associated with Ramadan should be taken into consideration as well.     Through class discussions and further personal research, I have begun to understand the Muslim faith and Islamic culture more. Knowing the features of this culture w...