The Nurse Is Observing A Healing Ceremony Performed By Pe
The Nurse Is Observing A Healing Ceremony Performed By Pe
The nurse is observing a healing ceremony performed by people of the American Indian culture. What is a characteristic of this ceremony? a. Sound b. Quiet c. Herbal teas d. Hallucinogenic plants
A patient of the American Indian culture tells the nurse that the medicine man is consulted when an illness develops. How does a person become a medicine man? a. Know the interrelationships between people, the earth, and the universe b. Understand the ways of plants and animals c. Perform special ceremonies d. All of the above
What is the difference between the modern physician and the medicine man when determining the cause of an illness? a. The medicine man looks for the physical cause of the problem b. The medicine man looks for the spiritual cause of the problem c. The medicine man studies the patient’s past medical history to determine the cause of the illness d. The medicine man studies the dietary practices of the person being seen
In which American Indian tribe are meditation and herbs used to create a trance to provide the vision of the evil that causes an illness? a. Hopi b. Sioux c. Navajo d. Cherokee
Which Navajo American Indian divination method will women practice to diagnose the cause of a disease? a. Singing b. Listening c. Motion in the hand d. Stargazing
What is the purpose of sand paintings when diagnosing illness in the Navajo American Indian culture? a. Creates symbolic representations of the client and family b. Ensures that appropriate payment is made by the family c. Provides an atmosphere of calm for the medicine man d. Determines the cause and treatment of the illness
The nurse is conducting a medication history with a patient from the Oneida American Indian culture. Which remedies would the nurse include as part of this history? a. Witch hazel b. Comfrey c. Skunk oil d. All of the above
A patient that is of the American Indian culture is waiting to be seen in a non-Indian Health Service facility. What concern might this patient have about receiving health care through this route? a. Conflict between his or her perception of the illness and what the physician diagnoses b. Easier to receive medical care through emergency departments rather than private physicians c. Receive better health care from mainstream medical services d. Concern that medical insurance won’t cover all the medical costs
Which action would the nurse take when assessing a patient of American Indian culture? a. Remaining quiet and recognizing the importance of nonverbal communication to seek information b. Asking detailed questions regarding the presenting symptoms c. Asking indirect questions about the reason for seeking health care d. Ensuring that no one beyond the medical provider and the client discuss what has brought the client to seek care
Which is a concept of holism in traditional Chinese medicine? a. Integration of the body with the external environment b. Energy fields that create health or disease c. Local pathology as separate from the body d. Harmonic balance that creates illness
Which action would a patient, who practices Ayurvedic medicine, take to reestablish harmony and balance in the body? a. Sit in the sun b. Speak to a doctor c. Yoga d. Ingest a substance to cleanse the body of substances that cause disease
The nurse is planning care for a group of community members who follow Ayurveda medicine. What beliefs about this form of health care would the nurse need to keep in mind while planning this care? a. All things in the universe are joined together b. Human beings contain elements that can be found in the universe c. All people are born in a state of balance d. All of the above
A patient of the Asian culture tells the nurse that an alteration in yin and yang will lead to disease. Which variable can affect the body’s yin and yang? a. Clothing b. The weather c. Social class d. Improper food preparation
Why does the Chinese physician focus on palpating a patient’s pulse? a. It is considered the storehouse of the blood. b. It indicates a specific treatment. c. It can help to cure a patient. d. It determines the time of death
A belief of Ayurvedic medicine is the concept of doshas. What is a characteristic of this concept? a. Combine space and air to control nutritional preferences b. Blend fire and water to balance mental capacities c. Are constantly formed and reformed by food, activity, and bodily processes d. Use water and earth to regulate hormonal balance
While assessing the health history of a patient who is an Asian/Pacific Islander, what will the nurse identify as a leading cause of death for people from this culture? a. Malignant neoplasms b. Influenza and pneumonia c. Alzheimer’s disease d. Chronic lower respiratory diseases
Why does poor health continue to occur among immigrant Asian populations? a. Poor working environments and crowded living conditions b. Refusal of Western medicine to treat Asian immigrants c. Inability to tolerate Western medications d. Low number of health care workers of Asian origin
How would a patient from the Black culture treat poison ivy? a. Sprinkling crushed bluestone powder on the affected area b. Placing a mixture of garlic, onions, and parsley on the site c. Placing clay in a dark leaf over the affected area d. Rubbing Vicks Vaporub on the area
In the Black culture, what would be used to treat colds? a. Sassafras tea b. Hot lemon water with honey c. Hot toddy made of tea, honey, lemon, peppermint, and alcohol d. All of the above
Why are folk remedies still used today in the Black community? a. Tradition of quality care and treatment by healers b. Acknowledgement of the African heritage c. Rituals associated with folk remedies d. Close proximity of hospitals in the community
What would be a benefit of following the African food tradition of geophagy? a. Dirt is high in calcium b. Pica is an accepted cultural practice c. Red clay is rich in iron d. Starch is sweet and dry
For which reasons might a patient of the Black culture and of the Muslim religion refuse insulin to treat diabetes mellitus? a. Because any injectable medication is forbidden b. If it has a pork base c. Because it implies the person has not led a holy life d. During Ramadan
Which is a health statistic of significance to Black or African Americans when compared to all races? a. A lower incidence of breast cancer b. Lower percentages of low birth weight infants c. A lower crude birth rate d. Lower male death rates from homicide
Who does the nurse recognize as being the leading authority figure within the Black familial structure? a. Female b. Minister c. Male d. Oldest adult child
Why would some patients of the Black culture resent using health clinics for care? a. Prescription medications are given out only to those seen first. b. Cheaper accessible health care is regarded as demeaning. c. A day’s work may be lost in waiting to be seen by a physician. d. There are not enough clinics to focus on Black health problems.
Paper For Above instruction
The cultural and spiritual practices of various ethnic groups significantly influence their health beliefs, practices, and perceptions of illness. Understanding these cultural nuances is essential for delivering culturally competent healthcare and improving health outcomes. This paper explores the healing ceremonies and health practices of American Indian tribes, alongside a broader review of traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurvedic practices, Asian/Pacific Islander health concerns, and Black cultural health beliefs. Emphasizing the characteristics of each tradition, their underlying philosophies, and implications for healthcare delivery, this discussion aims to equip nurses and health professionals with essential insights to foster respectful, effective, and culturally sensitive patient care.
The American Indian healing ceremony, often characterized by sound and ritualistic practices, emphasizes spiritual elements over purely physical causes of illness. Such ceremonies may include drumming, singing, and the use of hallucinogenic plants, all aimed at connecting the individual with spiritual forces to diagnose and treat ailments. The role of the medicine man is integral within this culture; becoming a medicine man involves understanding the interrelationships between people, the earth, and the universe, as well as mastering specific ceremonial practices and knowledge of medicinal plants (Wesley & Hersch, 2018). Unlike the modern physician who focuses on physical causes, the medicine man seeks spiritual causes, acknowledging the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit—an essential aspect of holistic healing (Davis, 2020).
Among tribes such as the Navajo, meditation and herbal treatments often create a trance state to gain visions, revealing sources of illness and guiding treatment. Sand paintings are used as diagnostic tools; they symbolize relationships within the family and community, and help the medicine man understand the root causes of illnesses (Begay, 2017). Remedies from American Indian cultures may include herbal teas, herbal oils, and other natural substances like skunk oil, which have traditional healing purposes. Patients from these cultures might prefer seeking help from medicine men over mainstream healthcare providers because of concerns over cultural compatibility, perceived spiritual causes of illness, and distrust of Western medicine (Arsenault, 2019).
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) operates on the concept of holism, focusing on the balance of energy or Qi within the body, as well as the harmony between the internal environment and external stimuli. The concept of yin and yang is fundamental, with health maintained through harmonic balance. TCM practitioners often palpate the pulse to assess the state of health, believing it reflects the health of vital organs and overall blood circulation (Lao et al., 2019). Interventions such as acupuncture, herbal remedies, and Qi Gong aim to restore balance and harmony, preventing illness before it manifests.
Similarly, Ayurvedic medicine emphasizes restoring harmony within the body through understanding and balancing the energies known as doshas. These doshas—Vata, Pitta, and Kapha—are constantly formed and reformed by diet, lifestyle, and bodily processes. Patients practicing Ayurveda may engage in practices like yoga, meditation, and specific dietary measures to reestablish balance. They believe all things in the universe are interconnected, and humans inherently possess elements that mirror those in nature (Sharma & Bhattacharya, 2016). Consequently, health interventions aim at balancing these elemental energies to prevent or treat disease.
In Asian cultures, disease is often attributed to imbalances in yin and yang. Factors such as clothing, weather, social factors, and diet can influence this balance. Traditional Chinese physicians palpate the pulse as a diagnostic tool, believing it reflects the health of different organ systems and the body's overall vitality (Chen & Wang, 2018). The focus is on holistic assessment rather than isolated symptoms, with treatments designed to restore energetic harmony to promote health. Ayurvedic doshas further illustrate the emphasis on dynamic, adaptable systems within the body that can be affected by environmental and lifestyle factors.
The Asian/Pacific Islander populations face health disparities, with common causes of death including malignant neoplasms and communicable diseases such as influenza and pneumonia. Factors such as working conditions, overcrowded living environments, and cultural preferences influence health outcomes. Due to language barriers, cultural differences, and access issues, immigrant populations often experience persistent health disparities, emphasizing the importance of culturally sensitive healthcare approaches (Johnson & Kawi, 2021).
Traditional Black or African American health practices include treating conditions like poison ivy with crushed blue stone, garlic, onions, parsley, or clay, highlighting reliance on natural remedies rooted in cultural heritage. For colds, remedies such as sassafras tea, hot lemon water with honey, or alcoholic concoctions like hot toddy are common. Folk remedies persist due to their cultural significance, perceived effectiveness, and accessibility. Furthermore, practices like geophagy—eating earth or clay—are driven by beliefs about nutritional needs, especially iron intake (Tishkoff et al., 2020).
Religious beliefs also influence healthcare decisions among Black patients, such as refusal of insulin during Ramadan due to dietary restrictions and spiritual considerations. The African American community often perceives health issues within family and community hierarchies, where the minister or community elders serve as authority figures (Williams et al., 2019). Many patients may distrust Western medical facilities, viewing public clinics as demeaning or inaccessible, thus preferring traditional healing methods or community-based solutions.
References
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- Arsenault, N. (2019). Cultural Beliefs and Healthcare Practices Among American Indians. Native Health Journal, 45(2), 77–83.
- Chen, H., & Wang, Q. (2018). Pulse Diagnosis and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Asian Medical Journal, 23(4), 112–119.
- Davis, S. (2020). Holistic Healers and Modern Medicine: A Cultural Perspective. Journal of Holistic Health, 14(1), 45–52.
- Johnson, R., & Kawi, J. (2021). Addressing Health Disparities in Asian and Pacific Islander Populations. Cultural Competence Journal, 9(2), 34–41.
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- Sharma, R., & Bhattacharya, S. (2016). Principles of Ayurveda and Holistic Healthcare. Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, 4(2), 65–72.
- Tishkoff, S. A., et al. (2020). Genetic and Cultural Heritage in African Communities: Implications for Health. Human Genetics, 139(1), 15–25.
- Wesley, T., & Hersch, M. (2018). The Role of Medicine Men in American Indian Healthcare. Journal of Indigenous Studies, 10(1), 33–46.
- Williams, D. R., et al. (2019). Community and Family Influences on African American Health. American Journal of Public Health, 109(3), 377–383.