Essay about heritage assessment

Submitted By tnbbenz
Words: 957
Pages: 4
Open Document
Introduction The United States of America was founded on the basis of equality and freedom for all, regardless of ethnical race or culture. The United States is a mixture of different ethnical races and cultures, commonly known as a “melting pot”. Culture can be defined as integrated patterns of human behavior that include the language, thoughts, communications, actions, customs, beliefs, values and institutions of racial, ethnic, religious, or social groups(Edelman, Kudzma, Mandle. 2014). America has become a place for all cultures to immigrate to and have the freedom to speech and practice their own religion and beliefs. The United States thrives on diversity and it would not be what it is today without this trait. Practicing in the nursing profession in America can be very rewarding, yet very difficult due to such a diverse society. The nurse must take time to learn about the different cultures commonly seen in their community. Providing cultural competent care is essential in the nursing profession. It involves care that includes the body, mind, spirit and cultural values of the individual (Kozier & Erb. 2008). Before we can begin with cultural competent care, we must start by assessing our patients in regards to their cultural background.

Heritage Assessment In preparation for this assignment we were provided a heritage assessment tool. This is a list of twenty nine questions we asked three different people from different cultures. The questions in assessing different cultures focused on religion, family, origin, language and preferences in regards to these topics. This tool helps us assess how strongly tied these individuals are to their cultures. In nursing, this helps the nurse adjust the care they provide to patient, according to the patients preferred practices.

Punjabi The first individual I assessed was born and raised in India. She moved to the United States of America at the age of twenty-three with her husband and two children. Her family continues to reside in India. She speaks Punjabi language and belongs to the Sikhism religion. For her culture, family and religion are very important. She visits her religion institute almost daily, and they strictly live their life by their religion. They cook cultural meals daily, active with prayer by praying two hours every morning and every evening. They are prohibited from cutting their hair, intoxication, wealth obsession, non-family oriented living, lying, eating meat and extra-marital relations (Robinson. 2010.).

Hispanic The Hispanic individual that I assessed was born in Mexico and brought to the United States of America at the age of six months. She was not very involved in her Catholic religion, but celebrates holidays with family. She keeps in contact with close relatives weekly and cooks meals from her culture on a regular basis. She does speak and read her language, Spanish, regularly. She has a big family, consisting of two brothers, two sisters, aunts, uncles and many cousins. She does participate with cultural activities, but has become accustomed to the American culture and life. Caucasian The Caucasian America, commonly known as “white” individual I assessed was born and raised in the town of Fresno, California. Her mother was born in Kerman, California and her father was born in Washington. She grew up living with her father, mother and one sister. She always keeps in contact with her immediate family, aunts, uncles and cousins, seeing them approximately once a month. She does participate in religious and ethnical activities, and cooks ethnical foods almost daily. Being born and raised in Fresno there is a wide variety of cultures. She has many friends from all types of different cultures.

Conclusion For the individual from India, health maintenance, protection and restoration revolved greatly around holistic care. The
Show More

Related Documents: Essay about heritage assessment

Essay on Heritage Assessment

Running Head: Heritage Assessment Heritage Assessment Grand Canyon University NRS-429V January 22, 2011 Heritage Assessment Heritage is as individual as a fingerprint when it comes to some cultures. Every individual has their own heritage, and this is very different between different cultures. Heritage consists of determination of one’s ethnic, religious, and cultural background (Spector, 2009). When we look at someone’s heritage, we look at traditional health methods used to maintain…

Words 1226 - Pages 5

Heritage Assessment Essay

The heritage Assessment Tool is a questioner design to assist individual to determine his or her ethnic, religious and cultural background in relationship with health, illness and diseases. Heritage and culture are different just like individual fingerprint. When looking at someone’s heritage and tradition, it consists of methods used to maintain health, protect health, and restore health. These concepts deal with person’s physical, mental and spiritual belief. Every individual…

Words 1935 - Pages 8

Importance Of Heritage Assessment

Heritage Assessment Cultural heritage plays a big role in the economic, social and health promotion of the individual. The use of heritage assessment tools helps healthcare providers evaluate and look at someone’s heritage, as well as traditional health methods used to maintain health, protect health, and restore health; by applying these concepts it helps healthcare professionals deal with a person’s physical, mental, and spiritual beliefs. Different cultures have different values and beliefs…

Words 1083 - Pages 5

Heritage Assessment Essays

Heritage Assessment: Applying The Heritage Assessment Jake Freeman GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY: NRS - 429V 10/31/2011 Applying the heritage assessment can be useful with integration into the health care system. First impressions go along with the proper approach. If you look at it this way first impressions are important in every culture. With the plethora of cultures out there and each family shaped by these values and beliefs a good approach is always an informed one…

Words 1402 - Pages 6

Heritage Assessment Essay

Heritage Assessment Health Traditions and Cultural Heritage No wonder modern technology innovations keep coming out each year. Even with all the new changes and the fast lifestyles. Few things are resolute such as customs and traditions. Each country has a wealth of culture and heritage passed on from their ancestors. Many people believe and value the inheritance; ensure to transfer the tradition to the upcoming generations. The distinguishing civilization, inheritance, and traditions are unique…

Words 296 - Pages 2

Heritage Assessment Essay

Heritage Assessment Introduction Over the past 20 years a significant social movement in America has amplified public awareness toward the promotion of health and disease prevention, known as Healthy People 2000 and 2010. It has been beneficial in changing the focus of health care from a reactive standpoint to a proactive one, which endorses national health and prevention of disease (Edelmam & Mandle, 2010). However delivery of health care objectives is not enough. Health providers must recognize…

Words 979 - Pages 4

Heritage Assessment Essay

Heritage Assessment Culture is a pattern of behavior and values shared by an ethnic group. Cultural heritage is a set of traditions within the culture that is hand down from the older generation to the younger generation within the family. These traditions influence the family’s decisions in relation to their diet, education, daily living activities, religious beliefs and practices and also health and illness beliefs. In this paper, the author will focus on the usefulness of applying a heritage…

Words 1195 - Pages 5

Heritage Assessment Essay

emphasized through media, bill boards, and printed materials in several native languages (Shapiro, 2003). The Middle Eastern community known as The “Arab World” includes 22 countries. The majority of the population is Muslim (Islamic religion). Arab heritage and Islamic religion emphasizes on maintaining good health through good personal hygiene and eating a healthy diet. The Arabs strongly believe in their customs, traditions, values, and…

Words 1650 - Pages 7

Heritage Assessment Tool Essays

The Heritage Assessment Tool Kacey McIntee Grand Canyon University Family Centered Health Promotion NRS-429V Jane Parkman December 21, 2012 The Heritage Assessment Tool The uprising of diversified communications has caused the combination of differing cultures. This suggests that dissimilar cultures are no not restricted to geographical boundaries. The noteworthy social drive worldwide has elevated apprehension over tailored health care. It is vital that the cultural backgrounds of a group have…

Words 1736 - Pages 7

Heritage Assessment Research Paper

Running head: Heritage Assessment Heritage Assessment Caridad Doucet Grand Canyon University: NRS-429V Family Centered Health Promotions Melva Bost RN, MS August 26, 2012 Heritage Assessment The United States has become a multicultural country. Everywhere you look, you see a plethora of cultures that range from Hispanic and African to Asian and American Indian. The varied traditions and beliefs of a multicultural country impact how nurses implement patient-centered…

Words 1014 - Pages 5