CULTURAL DIVERSITY
Healthcare Science Technology
Mrs. Burgstiner RN
Common Ethnic Groups In USA
• African American: Africa, Jamaica, Haiti,
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Dominican Republic
• Hispanic American: Cuba, Mexico, Puerto Rico,Spain, etc
• European American: England, France, Germany, Ireland
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Scotland, Scandinavia, Poland, Italy, Russia
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Middle Eastern: Jordan, Saudi, Iran, Lebanon etc.
Asian American: Cambodia, China, Hawaii, Japan, India
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Philippines, Indonesia, Laos, Vietnamese
• Native American: over 500 different tribes of Indians and
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Eskimos
Race: classification of people based on
physical or biological characteristics
• Frequently used to label a group and explain a pattern of
behavior
• Race cuts across ethnic/cultural groups and behaviors are
learned from ethnicity and culture not necessarily race.
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Example: African and Caribbean blacks share the same
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physical features but not the same beliefs/values
• Defined by:
• color of skin bone structure facial features
• hair, eyes
Cultural Diversity: differences among people
resulting from cultural, ethnic and racial
factors
• Culture, ethnicity, & race influence a
persons behavior, self-perception,
judgement of others and interpersonal
relationships
• US is a melting pot due to …
• cultural assimilation: when different
cultures absorb into a dominant culture
• requires that the other cultural groups
discard uniques beliefs and behaviors
Some say that the US is more like a
Multicultural Society
• This is when many cultures exist and are
recognized simultaneously and are all
respected and accepted.
• Acculturation : This is when one culture
adopts another, but happens over many
years. Recent immigrants hang on to their
beliefs, 2nd and 3rd generations start
adapting to the norm.
Healthcare Workers Role with Cultural
Diversity
• Sensitivity: appreciate and respect other
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cultures/ethnic groups
• example: Some Asians and Native
Americans do not like being called by their
first name by just anyone.
• Remember that each person has and will
continue to create new ideas and beliefs
• No one is 100% of anything..never assume
what group you “think” someone is in.
Cultural Diversity in Healthcare
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Healthcare providers…
work with people from all cultures
must respect individuality of every person
must be aware of these differences:
physical
family living geo. location
religious
educational
occupational
lanquage
social/economical status
life expectancies
Healthcare Workers must realize that a persons cultural and
ethnic background has a major influence on their life.
• Culture: the values, beliefs, customs and attitudes
that are unique to a particular group of people
and passes from one generation to the next.
• Not all culture is uniform among all members of a
group…..but it is a foundation.
• A culture is a Blueprint or general design for
living
Four Basic Rules of a Culture
1. It is Learned: taught by example
2. It is Shared: has common practices/beliefs
3. It is Social in nature: passed from generation
to generation
4. Is Dynamic and constantly changing: adapting
to new ideas
Ethnicity: classification of people based on
national origin or culture
Interference for Acceptance
• A. Bias:
• ethnocentric beliefs or
supremacy belief.
• Often includes
thinking that one way
is better than another
• A Bias will define how
certain groups are
treated
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Examples of Bias:
young/old
educated/uneducated
rich/poor
obese/thin
women/men
sexual preference
White supremecy
B.Prejudice: means to pre-judge. Often based on
ideas, or bias’s taught or observed in a person’s life
Can also be formed from personal experiences.
• Causes fear/distrust
• misunderstanding
• believes that one
culture is better than
another
• not always based on
factual information
• Every Person is prejudiced
to some degree
• We all want to feel our
beliefs are correct
• need to be aware of your
prejudices
• learn about others
• make sure info is correct
C.Stereotyping: happens when an assumption is
made that everyone in a certain group are the same
• Labels people,
ignoring the individual
• Example:
• All blondes are dumb
• People from the south
are slow
• Poor people are dirty
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Exists with ;
race
gender
size
occupation
religion
occupation
Always remember
every person is unique
How Healthcare Workers can avoid these barriers
• Know your personal
views and values
• Research and learn
about groups that are
not like you
• Develop friendships
with people from
different groups
• Act only on accurate
information
• Avoid ethnic or sexual
jokes
• Make a mistake??
• Apologize if you hurt
someone
• Forgive if someone
hurts you
A Deeper Look at Cultural
Diversity
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Family Organization:
nuclear family
extended family
Patriarchal -vsMatriarchal families
Healthcare worker
must accept
differences and allow
for them
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Language
Healthcare worker can
speak slowly
use simple words
gestures/pictures
non-verbal
get help as needed
Personal Space and Touch: varies with different
groups. Close: Arabs, French, Latin, Hispanics
Distant: African, European, Asian , Indians
• Watch for verbal and
non-verbal cues.
• Ask questions, always
explain what you are
doing.
• Never ASSUME
anything
• Eye Contact:
• Muslim women -0
• India- depends on
class
• European-like it,
means your interested
• Native Americans-use
peripheral vision
• Hispanic/African
Am. -brief/look away
Gestures: Are used to communicate. Many assume
they are universal, but they are not.
• Respecting Cultural
Diversity is done by:
• Listening
• Learning
• avoiding bias,
prejudices and
stereotypes
• Ask before acting
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Evaluate all info
Allow pt to express
beliefs
you don’t have to
change your view just
accept and respect
others
• be sensitive to the
needs of others
Avoiding
Bias/Prejudice/Stereotype
• Know your own belief
• Learn
• Be sensitive to others
beliefs
• Respect each others
beliefs
• Make friends with
someone from a
different group
• Ask questions
• Evaluate all info
• Avoid jokes that are
offensive
• Apologize and forgive
• Follow the Golden
Rule….”Do unto
others as you would
have them do to you”
THE END
(QUIT CELEBRATING)