Cultural Diversity
ELDER Project
Fairfield University School of Nursing
Russian Culture
Supported by DHHS/HRSA/BHPR/Division of
Nursing Grant #D62HP06858
Russian Culture
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the
participants will be able to ….
 Briefly discuss the history of the fall of the Former Soviet
Union and understand the current geographic location of
the countries that make up Eastern Europe.
 Discuss the role of religion, traditional health care beliefs,
social values, and family structure of Russia Culture and
the impact these factors have on health care.
 Identify specific culturally sensitive practices that can be
incorporated into your work with Russia patients and
Russian American patients.
Supported by DHHS/HRSA/BHPR/Division of
Nursing Grant #D62HP06858
Russian Culture
Introduction:
 The Russian population in the U.S. has grown by 254%
since 1990 and they are the second largest foreign-born
ethnic group in the U.S.
 As a culture, they have one of the highest household
incomes at an average of $51,000 and have the highest level
of education:
 52% have a bachelor’s degree or higher and
 80.3% have high school diplomas.
 It is a rich culture, full of pride.
Supported by DHHS/HRSA/BHPR/Division of
Nursing Grant #D62HP06858
Russian Culture
Introduction:
 Russia is sometimes referred to the Former Soviet Union
which includes the following states that gained
independence after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991:
Belarus
Estonia
Kazakhstan
Lithuania
Russia
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Georgia
Latvia
Moldova
Ukraine
Uzbekistan
Tajikistan
Turkmenistan Kyrgyzstan
Supported by DHHS/HRSA/BHPR/Division of
Nursing Grant #D62HP06858
Supported by DHHS/HRSA/BHPR/Division of
Nursing Grant #D62HP06858
Russian Culture
Introduction:
 The Former Yugoslavia which was made up of 20 ethnic
groups and also gained independence with the fall of the
Soviet Union in 1991. However, this took several wars
where 250,000 people of many ethnic backgrounds were
killed. Those countries include:
Kosovo
Slovenia
Macedonia
Croatia
Serbia
Montenegro
Bosnia and
Herzegovina
Supported by DHHS/HRSA/BHPR/Division of
Nursing Grant #D62HP06858
Supported by DHHS/HRSA/BHPR/Division of
Nursing Grant #D62HP06858
Russian Culture
Introduction:
 Many Eastern European countries were freed from the
Former Soviet Union, but were not part of the U.S.S.R
include:
 Poland
 East Germany
 Czechoslovakia
 Romania
 Bulgaria
 Hungary
 Yugoslavia
Supported by DHHS/HRSA/BHPR/Division of
Nursing Grant #D62HP06858
Russian Culture
Introduction:
 Our discussion will concentrate on people from the
Former Soviet Union.
 The following cultural patterns may represent many
immigrants from Russia and Eastern Europe, but do
not represent them all.
Supported by DHHS/HRSA/BHPR/Division of
Nursing Grant #D62HP06858
Russian Culture
Communication:
 Russian is the primary language.
 However, there are 27 co-official languages recognized
in the republics.
 People typically speak the language of the republic
they were from—Ukrainian, Belorussian, Uzbek, and
Polish.
 Yiddish and Ladino – a combination of Hebrew and
the Native language may also be spoken in the home.
Supported by DHHS/HRSA/BHPR/Division of
Nursing Grant #D62HP06858
Russian Culture
Communication:
 Common greeting used by men is a firm handshake with
direct eye contact. They use a less firm handshake with
women.


Men will greet a close male friend by patting each other on
the back and hug.
Women kiss each other on the cheek three times when they
meet.
Supported by DHHS/HRSA/BHPR/Division of
Nursing Grant #D62HP06858
Russian Culture
Communication:
 In public, the Russian person may appear cold and
unemotional, but are known to be warm and hospitable
and use a great deal of touch and communicate in private.
 Speech is typically in loud voices, even in regular
conversation.
 Communication can be very verbal and direct when speaking
with others.
 Elders are much respected and titles such as Mr., Mrs.,
Aunt and Uncle are used to refer to them.
Supported by DHHS/HRSA/BHPR/Division of
Nursing Grant #D62HP06858
Russian Culture
Family and Social Structure:
 The family is the most important institution in the Russian
culture.
 Russian values center around the family, married life and
altruism (self- sacrifice).
 Strong kinship bonds are seen:

They will support each other in crisis and will often consult
family members during healthcare planning; especially if
consents are needed.
 The male is the dominate figure in society.
 The woman’s life revolves around her husband and her
family.
Supported by DHHS/HRSA/BHPR/Division of
Nursing Grant #D62HP06858
Russian Culture
Family and Social Structure:
 Strong family bonds exist.
 Typically families are small: one child
 It is common for the woman to work outside the home.
 Elders are expected to help raise the grandchildren if the
parents work.
 Many generations may live together.
 The family is a source of stability
Supported by DHHS/HRSA/BHPR/Division of
Nursing Grant #D62HP06858
Russian Culture
Family and Social Structure:
 Children are expected to care for their elders.
 Placement in a long term care facility can be viewed as
abandonment of the parents.
 Values include education, professionalism, and efficiency
on the job.
 They are known as hard working people.
 The spokesperson and decision-making is usually the
strongest personality in the family:
 This may be the mother, father, eldest son or eldest daughter.
 Many Russians living in the U.S. will live in Russian
communities.
Supported by DHHS/HRSA/BHPR/Division of
Nursing Grant #D62HP06858
Russian Culture
View of Illness:
 Illness may be believed to be caused by:
 weather OR
 social experiences such as:



stress from a living situation
arguing with family
not doing the right thing e.g. not eating well or not dressing
warm enough
 Good health is viewed as the absence of pain – as a result,
illnesses that do not cause pain often go undiagnosed.
Supported by DHHS/HRSA/BHPR/Division of
Nursing Grant #D62HP06858
Russian Culture
View of Illness:
 Mental illness is considered a disgrace and the family will
avoid talking about it.
 Coming down with a cold is thought to be caused by being
physically cold, rather than by viruses or bacteria.
 With regards to bad news regarding an ill family member:
 The information is not usually given to the ill person - the
decision is left to the family whether or not to tell the patient.

The belief is that the ill person needs to be at peace so their
condition does not worsen.
Supported by DHHS/HRSA/BHPR/Division of
Nursing Grant #D62HP06858
Russian Culture
Folk Medicine:
 The use of home remedies, such as oil rubs, mud or steam
baths, exposure to fresh air and/or sunlight, is often used
before going to the doctor.
 “Bonki” is a common cold and flu remedy where glass cups
are pressed on the back and shoulders of the sick person to
ease symptoms.
 This approach often leaves bruises and welts that can be
interpreted as abuse.
 Alternative medicine such as massage, aromatherapy and
chiropractic care is commonly accepted.
Supported by DHHS/HRSA/BHPR/Division of
Nursing Grant #D62HP06858
Russian Culture
Folk Medicine:
 The belief of prayer as a powerful healing tool is very
important.
 The belief in good nutrition as a primary determinant of
health is valued and the family places great emphasis on
eating when a patient is ill.
 Herbal and folk medicine are used alongside of Western
medicine.
 In Russian culture, the focus of medical care is on treating
the cause rather than on the symptoms or on the disease
itself.
Supported by DHHS/HRSA/BHPR/Division of
Nursing Grant #D62HP06858
Russian Culture
Folk Medicine:
 The patient, family and physician relationship:
 It is important to form trusting relationship with the physician
or the patient and family may ignore the advice of that
physician.
 It is customary to attempt to maintain a good relationship with
physicians, often by the way of offering bribe
 Compassion and emotional closeness with the physician is
expected and in their homeland, this relationship is tantamount
to confiding in the priest.
 Russians appreciate the quality of care in America and
especially value:
 the right to choose their own doctor, AND
 the availability of services in cities and more remote areas
Supported by DHHS/HRSA/BHPR/Division of
Nursing Grant #D62HP06858
Russian Culture
Dietary Habits:
 The Russian culture is typically agrarian based in the
homeland, a diet based on foods from the garden and farm.
 The diet is high in fat, carbohydrates and sodium, which
contributes to diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and
gastrointestinal disease.
Supported by DHHS/HRSA/BHPR/Division of
Nursing Grant #D62HP06858
Russian Culture
Dietary Habits:
 Due to the early years of communism and food shortages in
the former Soviet Union, many had to concern themselves
about eating enough to stay alive.
 The ideal meal for the working person was heavy, fatty and
salty and made up of buckwheat with lard and black bread to
give enough energy to work all day.
 It is believed the richer and more fatty the food, the harder
one worked.
 As result, they tend not to be concerned with being
overweight.
Supported by DHHS/HRSA/BHPR/Division of
Nursing Grant #D62HP06858
Russian Culture
Dietary Habits:
 Traditional Russian Americans eat picked and dried meats,
fish, bread, potatoes, dumplings, porridge, cabbage, beet
soup and vegetables.
 Breakfast is the quick meal made up of egg omelet, sandwich,
kasha, coffee or tea.

Hearty breakfasts are seen as giving the person energy to work.
 Lunch is the main meal consisting of salad, soup and a main
course of meat or fish with two side dishes of vegetables and
cabbage, potatoes or porridge (kasha) from wheat, rye, rice,
oats or buckwheat.

Pelmeni is the most common traditional dish made of minced
meat wrapped in thin dough.
 Dinner is when the family eats together and shares the events
of the day.
Supported by DHHS/HRSA/BHPR/Division of
Nursing Grant #D62HP06858
Russian Culture
Time Orientation:
 Due to the agricultural heritage of the Russian culture, they
do not view time as important.
 They do not consider themselves as being late.
 Communism reinforced their disrespect for time since
workers could not be fired and there was no incentive to do
things on time.
Supported by DHHS/HRSA/BHPR/Division of
Nursing Grant #D62HP06858
Russian Culture
Religious Beliefs:
 The traditional and largest religion of the culture is Eastern
Orthodox, Christian faith. The second largest religion is
that of the Greek Catholic Church.
 Other faiths practiced within the culture include:
 Pentecostal
 Ukrainian Baptist
 Armenian Gregorian
 Various Protestant denominations
 Jewish
Supported by DHHS/HRSA/BHPR/Division of
Nursing Grant #D62HP06858
Russian Culture
Religious Beliefs:
 The practices of Islam and Buddhism have declined
significantly making this culture one that is
predominantly Christian.
 The church is seen as a symbol of Russian heritage and
culture.
 Many people are atheists secondary to the antireligious policy of the former Soviet Union.
Supported by DHHS/HRSA/BHPR/Division of
Nursing Grant #D62HP06858
Russian Culture
Conclusion:
 Immigrants from Russia and the former Soviet Union came
to the U.S. in several great waves in search of a better life.
 The current Russian-American environment blends
lifestyles and aspirations of both cultures assimilating well
into mainstream American life.
Supported by DHHS/HRSA/BHPR/Division of
Nursing Grant #D62HP06858
Reference

Ex-U.S.S.R. and Iron Curtain Countries. Retrieved on April 8th, 2010 from http://www.yourchildlearns.com/onlineatlas/cold-war-map.htm

Russians and Other Immigrants from the Former Soviet Union. Retrieved February 13, 2011 from
www.iowahealthdisparities.org/documents/russian.pdf.

Stratis Health. (2008). Culture Matters: The Cultural Competency Initiative. Retrieved February 13, 2011 from
www.stratishealth.org/documents/cc_easterneuropean_061108.pdf.

The Cross Cultural Healthcare Program. Voices of the Soviet Jewish Community. Retrieved February 3, 2011 from
http”//www.xculture.org/files/sovietjewish.pdf.

The Cross Cultural Healthcare Program. Voices of the Ukrainian Community. Retrieved February 3, 2011 from
http”//www.xculture.org/files/Ukraine.pdf.

The Former Yugoslavia. Retrieved on April 8th, 2010 from
http://geography.about.com/od/politicalgeography/a/fmryugoslavia.htm

University of Washington Medical Center. (2007). Communicating with Your Russian Patient. Retrieved February 11,
2011 from http://depts.washington.edu/pfes/pdfs/russiancultureclue.pdf

University of Washington Medical Center. (2007). End of Life Care: The Russian Culture. Retrieved February 11, 2011
from http://depts.washington.edu/pfes/pdfs/end%20of%20life%20care-russian.pdf
Supported by DHHS/HRSA/BHPR/Division of
Nursing Grant #D62HP06858
Power Point Presentation
Created by:
Joyce Cunneen, MSN, RN
Fairfield University School of Nursing
ELDER Project Education Coordinator
Monica Starr, BSN, RN
Fairfield University School of Nursing
ELDER Project Program Coordinator
Supported by DHHS/HRSA/BHPR/Division of
Nursing Grant #D62HP06858