Effective healthcare entails much more than just the provider’s knowledge and mastery of nursing practice. Enzman and Gaughan (2017) assert that a medical intervention must be such as to alleviate pain and slow the progression of a medical condition, although the primary mission of healthcare is much broader than just the cure. The caring-healing model serves as the basis for comprehensive culturally congruent care for all sorts of communities, including disadvantaged populations. In essence, caring-healing healthcare requires a balanced fit between professional practice and patients’ needs and expectations, usually informed by cultural views.
Healing does not necessarily have to involve positive healthcare outcomes. Healthcare providers, patients, and families must acknowledge unavoidable outcomes such as death, which requires thorough knowledge and awareness of culturally congruent care on the part of nurses and other healthcare professionals (Srivastava, 2007). Healing occurs when the aged who are an important segment of vulnerable or disadvantaged groups, experiencing a chronic condition dies at home in the presence of family members rather than in the hospital still attached to life-support machines. Srivastava (2007) posits that assisted death situations are critical, and healthcare providers must be aware of social and cultural domains that influence the patient’s family cultural beliefs, attitudes, and perspectives. Essentially, every unique instance of healing is part of a physical and emotional journey towards recovery, contentment, and peace.
In overview, it is apparent that a close link exists between caring-healing healthcare and culturally congruent care for all communities, including disadvantaged populations. Healthcare providers must incorporate caring-healing healthcare and culturally congruent care in their practice for the certainty of offering comprehensive care that captures the physical, emotional, and social needs of patients and their families. Ostensibly, disadvantaged populations are increasingly more prone to diseases that require the involvement of families due to their relatively poorer health outcomes and increased prevalence of diseases. As such, clinicians serving these populations must be aware of the people’s healthcare expectations from a cultural perspective.
References
Enzman H. M., & Gaughan, J. (2017). Advanced holistic nursing practice narratives: A view of caring praxis. Journal of Holistic Nursing, 35(4), 328-341.
Srivastava, R. (2007). The healthcare professional’s guide to clinical cultural competence. Mosby Canada.