Culture and diversity

Definitions & Key takeaways

Culture is the behaviors and beliefs learned, shared, and passed down from one generation to the next within a particular group of people. Diversity refers to the variety of different cultures, races, religions, and ethnicities that exist in the world. It is also used to describe differences in experiences and perspectives that arise from those cultural and ethnic differences.

As a healthcare provider, you will be working with clients from different cultures, and this can sometimes lead to miscommunication as they might be speaking a language you don't understand, or even have entirely different beliefs. Try to be familiar with their culture, always speak slowly and calmly, and be as clear as you can when communicating. When necessary, use picture boards with two languages or an interpreter.

Chapters:

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Intro0:00–0:38

As a nursing assistant, you are constantly communicating with your clients while you take care of them. Communication can be verbal, when using spoken language, and nonverbal, when using body language, like gestures, facial expression, and touch.
Communication may be challenging when working with clients who have different cultural backgrounds. The clients might speak different languages, making verbal communication harder, or they might misinterpret nonverbal messages because their culture gives those nonverbal cues different meanings.To prevent miscommunication, make sure you are familiar with the client’s care plan as it contains cultural guidelines for you to be aware of.

Basic Guidelines0:38–1:13

Show an interest in your clients’ and their friends’ and family’s culture by learning more about it and knowing how to approach them.
Remember to be a professional and avoid judging others by respecting their beliefs and values that might be different from yours.
You should be self-aware of your own biases that you bring to the care environment and avoid making generalizations or stereotyping people from different cultures.
When working with clients that might not speak the same language as you as their primary language, make sure you are speaking calmly, slowly, and clearly in a normal tone.

Language1:13–2:01

Use short and simple phrases and try to notice if your client recognizes some of the words. Repeating what you said in a different way can be helpful, too.
Don’t raise your voice and avoid using slang or complex medical terms. In everyday communication, a very helpful tool could be a picture board with two languages, where your client can point to the picture of what they are trying to say.
Avoid using a client’s family member to translate because they could misunderstand the medical terms and give false information.
Therefore, it is always better to use an interpreter that your agency provides. This way, you will be sure that everything is translated correctly.During client care, it’s also important to respect and maintain professional boundaries.

Touch2:01–2:54

Touch is usually used to comfort and calm down clients and to show respect, concern, reassurance, and that they have your attention.
This might differ depending on a culture, so first make sure you know who, when, and where you can touch. For example, in the Philippines and Mexico, touch is frequently used as a friendly sign and even preferred by some who believe that it protects from a curse of the evil eye, or mal de ojo.
In the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Poland on the other hand, a handshake is preferred, while touch is left for the friends and family.
Furthermore, in India, men greet other men with a handshake, they greet women with a slight bow while bringing palms together, and they touch the feet of an older adult person to show respect or seek blessing.
In China, touch is avoided, so a nod is more appropriate.Facial expressions can convey a lot of emotions that may be more genuine than those expressed by words.

Facial Expressions2:54–3:44

Some cultures, like American, Hispanic, Jewish, and Southern European use a lot of facial expressions for a variety of emotions.
Some that are easy to read are surprise, from direct eye contact with lifted eyebrows; embarrassment, where a person is flushed and avoids eye contact; fear, when eyes are wide opened, eyebrows are raised, and lips tighten; anger, from a stare through narrowed eyes and lowered eyebrows; and disgust, when upper lips and the sides of the nose are raised and eyes are narrowed.
Other cultures, like English, Irish, and Northern Europeans are more reserved with facial expressions and may appear cold or distant.
Asians, on the other hand, might use different facial expressions to hide their true emotions, like smiling when they feel sad.Another important part of the communication is eye contact, and there’s a lot of variation between cultures.

Eye Contact3:44–4:24

In some American and European cultures, keeping eye contact while talking with someone shows that you are present, listening, devoted to the conversation, and are giving them attention.
On the other hand, people that are rude, shy, embarrassed, dishonest, guilty, not interested, or lack self esteem would usually avoid eye contact.
In some Asian and specifically Mexican cultures, direct eye contact is usually avoided as it can be seen as a violation of privacy or can have a sexual meaning.
In Iraq, men and women are not supposed to have direct eye contact.Now, silence may seem as an absence of communication, but it is actually a way of showing respect and care and giving space to somebody who may be feeling down or have some other problem.

Silence4:24–5:05

Silence can also be due to discomfort or uncertainty about a situation. People use silence to sort out their thoughts and feelings and to focus on problems and choose the best way to act.
In Russian, French, and Spanish cultures, people use silence to show that they accept and agree with others. However, in English and Arabic cultures, it means that people are seeking privacy.
In some Asian cultures, by staying silent, people show respect toward others, especially while communicating with somebody who is older.Alright, as a quick recap… Working with clients from different cultures could lead to miscommunication and misinformation because they might speak different languages or have different beliefs and values.

Recap5:05–5:51

To prevent this from happening, you should be familiar with their care plan and learn about their culture and how verbal and non-verbal communication can be different.
For non-verbal communication, it’s important to know the cultural differences when it comes to touch, eye contact, facial expression, and silence.
When communicating verbally with a client that might not speak the same language as you as their primary language, use simple and short phrases.
Speak calmly, slowly, and clearly and repeat yourself when required.