Understanding the cultural practices of a given group of people is always important when providing care for these patients. According to Purnell (2012), it is important to understand some of the cultural practices of a given group of people to be able to offer patients of that particular group a good environment while they are seeking healthcare from hospitals. One of these groups of people that still have clearly defined cultural practices in this country is the Chinese. It is important to understand that the Chinese- both the visiting Chinese and those that have been integrated into this country- highly value family ties. When offering healthcare to these patients, they may demand that they need to be close to their family members as often as possible. The constant encouragement from family members and the consolation may help speed up the rate of recovery. It is important to understand that creating an environment where such a patient can easily interact with family members is important to their speedy recovery. Another important cultural practice of the Chinese is the kind of food they take. It is a fact that large public hospitals cannot develop special menus for such patients. However, it is important to understand that based on their culture some types of food are preferred by them over others. On most occasions, the relatives and friends would come with such foodstuff to the hospitals (Jeffreys, 2006). The management should not bar them from taking such foods as long as they do not have an effect on their health. Lastly, Chinese culture encourages physical exercise as much as possible. If possible, the management of hospitals should try to find a way of making recovering patients conduct some minor exercise while on the bed to stimulate their muscles and body organs. Such exercises can help speed up the rate of recovery for inpatients.
A number of folk health and healing practices have been in existence among various cultural groups in the United States. Some of these traditional folk medicines are still in existence in this country. From a personal point of view, I believe that traditional folk medicine should not be eliminated but instead be allowed alongside mainstream western medicine (Paulanka, 2005). Mainstream western medicine should always be given priority in all cases that require urgent healthcare. Such other serious medical health processes such as those involving the brain, heart or other delicate internal organs should be addressed using mainstream western medicine. On the other hand, such cases as snakebites and external wounds can be treated using traditional folk medicine because they have been confirmed to work well when used with external wound and even on snakebites.
One of the most common traditional folk medicine that has been common is the use of traditional herbs to cure stomachaches. There is special flowering plant that is always used in this process. Its leaves are always plucked and crashed, then put into hot water. The solution is then taken as medicine. It is very effective in relieving one of stomachaches. Another traditional folk medicine that is still common in this country is the use of roots and leaves of a special shrub to make antidote for snakebites. This herb has saved lives of many Americans who could not rush to hospitals after snakebites for a number of reasons (Paulanka, 2005).
References
Jeffreys, M. R. (2006). Teaching cultural competence in nursing and health care: Inquiry, action, and innovation. New York: Springer Publishers.
Paulanka, B. (2005). Guide to culturally competent health care. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis Company.
Purnell, L. (2012). Transcultural health care: A culturally competent approach. Philadelphia: F A Davis.