Purpose:  To examine the effects of culture on health care beliefs and practices of clients and on individual nursing practice.

Begin by thinking about a particular cultural or ethnic group that you are interested in learning more about.  If you need help, talk to me and/or use library resources/newspapers, magazines, etc.  to help you focus on specific culture.  You are to use a minimum of 5 references.  At the bottom of the list, include the name, address, and phone number of the individual you will be (or have) interviewed for this project.  This individual is not one of the five references.

Format for Final Cultural Assessment Project Paper 
1.  Identify and describe a cultural or ethnic group that you may come in contact with in
     your nursing practice.  Choose a group that can be thoroughly discussed in 8-10 pages -
     you may have to limit your group in some way, for example the health practices and
     beliefs of Haitian-Americans may be very different from those of African descent.  In a
     similar vein, Asians from different countries have distinct practices.

2.  Discuss the health care beliefs and practices of the culture.  Include illness beliefs and
     customs, interpersonal relationship conventions, spiritual/religious practices, and beliefs
     about his/her place in this world.  (20 pts)

3.  Include relevant points of view on the beliefs and practices (e.g. what do “experts” in
     this culture, including the respondent you interviewed, and other experts you
     discovered in your literature search, think about it).  Record your own observations
     regarding nonverbal & verbal communication cures with the respondent you
     interviewed (eye contact, tempo of conversation, sensitivity to topical taboos, style of
     explanation). (5 pts)

4.  Discuss any differences in what your respondent told you vs. what you read in the
     literature.  Include a potential explanation for the difference in beliefs. (10 pts)

5.  In what ways will the knowledge and experience you gained from this assignment be
     incorporated into your future nursing practice - e.g. discuss how this assignment will
     influence your work with people from different cultural backgrounds. (5 pts)

6.  Mechanics of paper.    Paper is 8-10 pages, typed, references no more that 10 years old 
     and cited  in APA format.  Your grade will also be based on neatness, grammar, spelling,
     organization and correct use of APA format. (20 pts)

Evaluation:  This assignment will be evaluated based on relevancy, accuracy, thoroughness, plausibility, and depth of thoughts and ideas.  Your paper is to be submitted by the assigned due date; 5 points will be deducted for each day paper is late.
 

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 © 2000 Jane E. Lucht - N210 Foundations of Professional Nursing