Description.
I intend to employ the Clinical Yarning method, which entails active listening and a culturally appropriate communication style that respects and honors the patient’s cultural background and experiences, to build rapport and trust with Mrs. Johnson. Before the meeting, I’ll take some time to consider how my cultural prejudices and presumptions can influence how I communicate with Mrs. Johnson. I’ll also consider how her bad experiences with medical professionals affect her openness to talk.
I’ll introduce myself and describe my role as a student nurse to start the conversation. I’ll then ask Mrs. Johnson if she would tell me about her experience and symptoms. I will encourage her to communicate her worries and feelings using open-ended questions and active listening. I’ll also summarize and paraphrase to fully comprehend her viewpoint. I’ll monitor my comments and reactions as I participate in the conversation to ensure I’m not assuming anything or passing judgment based on my cultural background. I’ll also think about how her cultural practices and beliefs affect how she wants to be treated and how she feels about her health.
Feelings.
The fact that Mrs. Johnson wants her family to be present during our consultation makes me, a student nurse, both happy and anxious. On the one hand, establishing a connection and trust with Mrs. Johnson can be facilitated by having family members there. Family members can offer moral support and ensure crucial information is appropriately communicated. On the other hand, trying to build a therapeutic relationship with Mrs. Johnson when multiple family members are present can be difficult. Concentrating on Mrs. Johnson’s requirements and making sure she feels comfortable disclosing personal information could be challenging.
I’m anxious because I want Mrs. Johnson to be at ease and confident in her ability to make choices regarding her medical care. Along with respecting her privacy and liberty, I also want to ensure that I am delivering culturally safe care. I will make sure that they are welcomed into the consultation in a courteous and encouraging manner, as I am aware that their presence can significantly support Mrs. Johnson’s health and well-being.
Evaluation.
It is critical to speak with Mrs. Johnson and learn about her cultural upbringing and beliefs to create a safe setting for her. As a result, there may be less of a power gap between patients and healthcare practitioners. To help Mrs. Johnson feel comfortable and trusted, the following therapeutic communication approaches can be employed in the Diagnostic Yarn stage of the Clinical Yarning approach:
Active listening entails paying close attention to the client’s words without interjecting or passing judgment. Respecting and showing empathy for the client’s thoughts and feelings is helpful. The nurse can help Mrs. Johnson express her experiences and worries about her condition and the healthcare system by actively listening to her.
Open-ended inquiries: Open-ended inquiries allow the client to express themselves entirely and offer helpful details that can help with diagnosis and treatment plans. The nurse can help provide culturally competent treatment by encouraging Mrs. Johnson to disclose more about her disease and health beliefs by posing open-ended inquiries.
Cultural respect entails appreciating the client’s particular demands and preferences and cultural variety. Recognizing Mrs. Johnson’s cultural and spiritual ties to her nation and society, as well as the significance of her family’s attendance at the consultation, is crucial.
Nonverbal communication: Nonverbal cues like maintaining eye contact, good body alignment, and facial expressions can indicate concern, empathy, and interest in the client. Through nonverbal cues, the nurse can show Mrs. Johnson that they are willing to listen and support her.
The nurse can accommodate Mrs. Johnson’s family members by letting them sit close by, ensuring her physical seclusion. The nurse can organize the physical space to foster coziness, discretion, and cultural safety. Additionally, the nurse can speak with Mrs. Johnson about her preferred settings for consultations and make the appropriate modifications per her cultural practices and beliefs.
In conclusion, Mrs. Johnson can feel more secure and trusted by utilizing the Diagnostic Yarn stage of the Clinical Yarning process and therapeutic communication strategies such as active listening, open-ended inquiries, cultural sensitivity, and nonverbal cues. The therapeutic relationship between the nurse and Mrs. Johnson can be improved further by making accommodations for her family members and guaranteeing their privacy and cultural safety.
Analysis.
Aboriginal Australians still encounter severe cultural challenges and bigotry daily. In addition to social exclusion, marginalization, and cultural erasure, these experiences also entail discrimination in access to housing, work, healthcare, and educational opportunities. The historical and ongoing effects of colonization, which led to the uprooting of communities from their lands, the erasure of traditional traditions, and the forced assimilation of Aboriginal people into white Australian society, are the root of these difficulties (Babacan et al., 2020).
Racism and cultural hurdles are two obstacles Mrs. Johnson may encounter as an Aboriginal person when trying to receive healthcare. It may be challenging for Aboriginal people to access healthcare when they require it if there is a lack of trust between patients and healthcare providers due to racism within the healthcare system. Language, cultural norms, and customs can all hinder Aboriginal people from getting the healthcare they need (Redvers et al., 2022).
Mrs. Johnson’s hesitancy to discuss her medical problem with the male doctor may result from previous unfavorable interactions with healthcare professionals. She might have previously encountered prejudice or a lack of cultural understanding by healthcare professionals because she is an Aboriginal woman. Aboriginal Australians have a history of having bad encounters with healthcare professionals, which has led to a lack of confidence and apprehension about seeking care (Kairuz et al., 2020). This can be ascribed to Indigenous Australians’ past oppression, which included discrimination, forced assimilation, and removal from their relatives. This can cause mistrust of non-Aboriginal healthcare professionals and hesitation to bring up personal health issues.
The presence of Mrs. Johnson’s family members during the appointment could pose a problem for her capacity to address her issues with me. Even though having family around can be supportive, Mrs. Johnson may find it challenging to open up to them about her personal health issues. Her second language is English. Therefore, communication barriers could be a problem.
To get around these issues, I can ensure Mrs. Johnson feels comfortable talking about her health concerns in a calm, private setting during the consultation. I can also engage an interpreter to help people communicate in different languages if necessary. If necessary, I can use textual materials or visual aids to convey information in an approachable manner. I need to ensure Mrs. Johnson comprehends and retains the fabric so I may utilize teach-back strategies to check for understanding and correct misunderstandings.
Conclusion.
To establish trust, rapport, and respect with patients from different backgrounds, healthcare professionals must provide a culturally safe atmosphere and use therapeutic communication approaches. Providing high-quality care is encouraged by culturally safe environments, which also guarantee that patients’ cultural beliefs, values, and practices are acknowledged and respected. Additionally, it aids in addressing the disparities in healthcare that marginalized groups like Indigenous Australians experience. Healthcare professionals can better understand their patients’ experiences and views and deliver effective care by utilizing therapeutic communication skills, including active listening, non-judgmental attitudes, and empathy. Healthcare professionals can enhance client outcomes, increase satisfaction, and lessen healthcare inequities by establishing a culturally safe atmosphere and applying therapeutic communication approaches.
Action Plan.
I’ll keep honing my therapeutic communication techniques in preparation for clinical practice by working on active listening, being present at the moment, and posing open-ended inquiries that invite the patient to tell their narrative. I also intend to take part in training on communication skills, role-play scenarios with peers, and watch knowledgeable healthcare experts. Additionally, I’ll read and research materials that emphasize culturally appropriate communication methods and then put these ideas into practice when I interact with patients. I’ll also focus on honing my body language, eye contact skills, and other nonverbal communication techniques.
I will keep learning about the cultural practices and beliefs of the many cultures I may come into contact with to ensure the establishment of Culturally Safe practices on my part when providing healthcare in the future. In order to develop my cultural competency, I will look for chances to collaborate with and learn from Elders and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health professionals. I will also continuously reflect on and evaluate my practice. Additionally, I will promote and advocate for culturally safe practices in my profession and place of employment.
References.
Babacan, A., Jacobs, R., Kamp, A., Paradies, Y., Piyarathne, A., Wang, C., … & Jacobs, R. (2020). Racism. In Multicultural Responsiveness in Counselling and Psychology: Working with Australian Populations (pp. 51-102). Cham: Springer International Publishing. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-55427-9_3
Kairuz, C. A., Casanelia, L. M., Bennett-Brook, K., Coombes, J., & Yadav, U. N. (2020). Impact of racism and discrimination on the physical and mental health among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples living in Australia: a protocol for a scoping review. Systematic Reviews, 9, 1-6. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13643-020-01480-w
Redvers, N., Celidwen, Y., Schultz, C., Horn, O., Githaiga, C., Vera, M., … & Rojas, J. N. (2022). The determinants of planetary health: an Indigenous consensus perspective. The Lancet Planetary Health, 6(2), e156-e163. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2542519621003545
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