Essay About Author Lives And Cultural Sensitivity

Professional Communication Cultural Sensitivity
Professional Communication: Cultural Sensitivity
Introduction
A person’s thoughts, actions, and beliefs are influenced by their culture. A patient’s
health promotion is also influenced by culture. The United States of American is a melting pot
of people from various cultures and backgrounds. Cultural diversity not only exists among
patients, but also within the healthcare team (Denisco & Barker, 2016). Nurses should be aware
that cultural bias exists. This cultural bias can hinder or disrupt patient care. Poor
communication between nurses and patients can be a result of cultural bias and knowledge
deficit. In order for appropriate and adequate patient care to be obtained nurses must have
cultural competence. The definition of cultural competence is the ability to appropriately
respond to the cultural needs of patients (Denisco & Barker, 2016).
This paper will discuss an article about the Mexican-American culture related to health
care. This cultural group was chosen due to the fact that the Mexican-American culture is the
minority group that makes up the largest population where the author lives and works. The
author of this paper has had professional and personal experience with this cultural group.
Article Summary
“Listening to the Voices of Mexican-American Women” is an article that reports on six
Mexican-American women’s interviews (Eggenberger, Grassley, & Restrepo, 2011). This article
was written in order to give the cultural perspective of the Mexican-American people in regards
to health care. The authors chose to interview women since they carry the responsibility of
caring for the families health. The main focus to the article is based on the views of women in
the areas of health beliefs, health care practices, and family life. The article helped to give an
insight into the Mexican-American culture which can help nurses provide culturally competent
care (Eggenberger et al., 2011). There were specific areas that were part of the interviews that
remain