Cultural Conflicts Between Organizational, Nursing, and Mexican American Cultures in an Ambulatory Care Setting
Author: Jaramillo, Barbara J. MSN, RN
Date Published: 198?
A mini ethnographic study was conducted, in which the interactions between organizational, nursing, and Mexican American cultures were observed in an ambulatory care setting in a medium size South Texas city. The purpose was to improve nursing care through examining the impact of cultural conflict on care. Leininger stated that culturological assessments are important in helping nurses understand, consider, and respect the cultural values, beliefs, and practices of their patients. She defined culturological nursing assessment as a "systematic appraisal or examination of individuals, groups, and communities as to their cultural beliefs, values, and practices to determine explicit nursing needs and intervention practices within the cultural context of the people being evaluated." This report summarizes the literature regarding the Mexican American culture and presents findings from the ethnographic field study. Finally, the implications for nursing and recommendations to improve care are presented.
Date Published: 198?
A mini ethnographic study was conducted, in which the interactions between organizational, nursing, and Mexican American cultures were observed in an ambulatory care setting in a medium size South Texas city. The purpose was to improve nursing care through examining the impact of cultural conflict on care. Leininger stated that culturological assessments are important in helping nurses understand, consider, and respect the cultural values, beliefs, and practices of their patients. She defined culturological nursing assessment as a "systematic appraisal or examination of individuals, groups, and communities as to their cultural beliefs, values, and practices to determine explicit nursing needs and intervention practices within the cultural context of the people being evaluated." This report summarizes the literature regarding the Mexican American culture and presents findings from the ethnographic field study. Finally, the implications for nursing and recommendations to improve care are presented.
