Introduction
Navajo Native Americans are a Native American nation that occupied lands in the southwestern United States. They are the largest federally recognized tribe in the United States, with a population of roughly 350,000 (Research guides and class pages: Native American & Indigenous Studies: Navajo 2022). They have a deep spiritual connection to the land, and their beliefs are centered around the natural world. They are known for their rich oral tradition, complex weaving techniques, and unique traditional foods. They have a proud history of resilience and continue to maintain their language, culture, and practices. A picture of some Navajo people is shown in Fig. 1 above.
Overview
The Navajo culture considers family and community to be of utmost importance, which can be integrated into the nursing practice. Nurses should be aware of the importance of the Navajo culture on family and community and strive to build strong relationships with their patients and their families. The Navajo view of health is based on the belief that all aspects of a person’s life should be considered to achieve optimal health. This can be incorporated into the nursing practice by providing holistic care that addresses the patient’s mental, physical, and spiritual needs (Culture and heritage are key to Tribal Community Health 2021). As with any culture, the Navajo culture has its own set of values and beliefs when it comes to health and healing. Having a nurse of the same cultural background may make the patient more comfortable discussing sensitive health concerns. It is essential for nurses to be aware of and respect these differences and to be willing to explore alternative treatment options. Nurses must know that the Navajo culture may have different attitudes towards Western medicine and be ready to work with their patients to find the best solution for their health needs.
Demonstrating Cultural Competency/ Sensitivity
To depict cultural sensitivity, nurses must identify Navajo people as separate people, unique from others. This means that healthcare providers should be aware of the Navajo Nation’s unique values, beliefs, and practices and recognize that they may differ from Western medicine. Fig. 2 shows some Navajo people in their unique dress code being studied by some modern Americans. It is essential to be mindful of traditional healing practices and to understand that members of the Navajo Nation may consult traditional healers and that these traditional healers are respected and valued (Culture and heritage are key to Tribal Community Health 2021). Moreover, Healthcare providers should not assume that the Navajo Nation follows the same laws or customs as other nations and should respect the Navajo Nation’s right to choose its path. It is also essential to ask questions in a respectful and non-judgmental manner and to refrain from making assumptions about the beliefs and values of members of the Navajo Nation.
All healthcare professionals should respect the Navajo Nation’s traditional ceremonies and spiritual practices and avoid imposing Western medical treatments on them. It is essential to understand that the Navajo Nation has its healing ceremonies and procedures and that these may be used in place of or in addition to Western medical treatments. This includes understanding the importance of medicinal plants, herbs, and other traditional healing practices in Navajo culture, as shown in Fig. 3 where someone holds some traditional herbs (Culture and heritage are key to Tribal Community Health 2021). Navajo people have a long history of using medicinal plants, herbs, and other traditional healing practices to achieve and maintain physical, mental, and spiritual health. It is essential to recognize and respect this traditional knowledge and to consult with a Navajo healer or medicine man if appropriate.
Emerging Trends
Healthcare providers are becoming more aware of the disparities between different cultural and socioeconomic groups in terms of access to healthcare and quality of care. This understanding is essential for ensuring equitable and accessible healthcare for all. Moreover, there is an increased emphasis on cultural responsiveness in healthcare delivery and patient engagement (Sharifi et al., 2019). This includes recognizing the unique cultural needs of patients and tailoring healthcare services to meet those needs better. It involves understanding how culture, values, and beliefs can influence a person’s perspective on health and healthcare and the potential barriers to care.
Healthcare providers are encouraged to be open to learning about different cultures and to develop relationships with people from different backgrounds as shown in Figure 4 above (McEwing, 2020). This can help to create a more inclusive and welcoming environment for patients and their families. Cultural competency education and training for healthcare providers are expanding. This includes teaching cultural diversity, humility, language access, and cultural sensitivity. It also provides training on assessing for and addressing cultural and linguistic barriers to healthcare (Sharifi et al., 2019).
Cultural responsiveness is essential in providing quality care to patients of diverse backgrounds. Healthcare providers are increasingly considering the unique needs of different cultural groups. They are also noting any disparities in healthcare access and creating an environment of trust and respect for all patients (Sharifi et al., 2019). As part of this, language access and translation services are essential for ensuring effective communication with patients of different cultural backgrounds.
Furthermore, healthcare givers have understood the importance of Cultural humility, which involves recognizing and respecting patients’ cultural beliefs, values, and practices and learning from their experiences. It also consists in recognizing one’s own cultural biases and how they may affect patient care. Healthcare providers should strive to understand and appreciate the diverse backgrounds of their patients to provide the best care possible. This requires great collaboration and acceptance from healthcare givers from all cultures, as shown in Figure 5.
Traditional approaches to cultural competency have focused on individual education and training, but a more systemic approach is now being adopted (Sharifi et al., 2019). This involves implementing organizational policies and practices that promote cultural competency and ensure equitable care for all patients, regardless of their cultural backgrounds. This approach recognizes that cultural competency is not just a skill to be learned but an ongoing process that requires organizational commitment and involvement from all levels of the healthcare system.
Providing Culturally Competent Care
Asking patients about their beliefs and preferences regarding health care and treatment is essential to providing culturally competent care. This allows the provider to gain insight into the patient’s values and attitudes towards healthcare and any potential cultural or religious practices that could impact the patient’s care as they are the center of it all (fig. 6). Additionally, It is essential to be aware of and sensitive to the patient’s cultural and religious traditions, and it is necessary to respect these practices when providing care (McEwing, 2020). Providers should make an effort to use language that is understandable to the patient and should be aware of any potential cultural barriers or misunderstandings that may arise from using unfamiliar or offensive language.
Part of culturally competent care entails understanding the patient’s cultural and spiritual beliefs concerning health care and treatment. Respect the patient’s values and provide care that is mindful of their specific beliefs. Another essential aspect is educating patients and their families to allow them to make informed decisions about their treatment. Nurses should provide clear, accurate information that respects the patient’s cultural beliefs (Kaihlanen et al., 2019). Moreover, care should consider the patient’s lifestyle, cultural and religious beliefs, and other factors that may affect their care. Adjustments may need to be made to ensure that the care is tailored to the patient’s needs by having a diverse workforce (fig. 7). This could include providing culturally sensitive education or resources or adjusting the treatment plan to accommodate the patient’s needs (Kaihlanen et al., 2019).
Recommendations for Developing Culturally Competent Practice
Learning a patient’s cultural background and beliefs is essential to providing effective and culturally competent care. This is important in providing culturally sensitive care, as it allows the healthcare provider to understand the patient’s values, beliefs, and practices that may affect their care. Respect for patient differences is essential for providing culturally competent care. It is important to recognize that each patient is unique and should be treated as such (Sharifi et al., 2019). Language barriers can be a significant barrier to providing culturally competent care. Understanding a patient’s native language, or providing an interpreter, can help ensure that the patient understands their diagnosis and treatment plan. Training healthcare providers in cultural competency can help ensure that their care is respectful and appropriate for all patients (Sharifi et al., 2019). Training should cover cultural awareness, communication with diverse populations, and cultural sensitivity, as in Fig. 8, where a team of diverse healthcare givers learns all they need to understand to work anywhere in the world.. Cultural diversity can help promote cultural awareness and understanding between healthcare providers and patients. This can include providing resources for different cultures and languages and promoting education on different cultures and their beliefs.
Conclusion
Healthcare givers should respect the patient’s right to make decisions about their care and lifestyle, even if these decisions differ from one’s own beliefs and values. Moreover, they should consider the patient’s cultural background and its impact on their health. Another way to foster culturally competent care is by communicating with the patient in a respectful and empathetic way (McEwing, 2020). Avoid relying solely on the patient’s language; instead, use culturally appropriate language. It is also advisable to consider the impact of the patient’s cultural beliefs, values, and practices on their care. Furthermore, health practitioners can promote cultural competency by fostering trust and understanding between the patient and the healthcare team by creating an atmosphere of mutual respect and open communication (McEwing, 2020). Fig. 9 is a show of unity and trust between various health care parties which is essential in culturally competent care.
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