solved

solved. Question
Answered step-by-step
Asked by gualch

Answer the question  from the  Culturally Safe Care Empowering Indigenous Birthers in the Post-Partum Period

 

 

Therefore, with knowledge on CR why are Canadian practitioners still not providing CSC to Indigenous birthers, and as novice nurses are we prepared to implement these inclusive strategies into our practice?

 

 

Culturally Safe Care Empowering Indigenous Birthers in the Post-Partum Period

Culturally safe care (CSC) is “achieved when people of diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds, feel respected and safe from discrimination” (Northern Health BC, 2017). This post will discuss how CSC is not being provided and how cultural relativism can be used to empower Indigenous birthers in the post-partum period. CSC for Indigenous peoples promotes the re-integration of indigenous values, understandings, and approaches (Churchill et al. 2020). Relating this to a Canadian context, the loss CSC for Indigenous birthers in Canada can be attributed to the cultural genocide originating from colonialism and the implementation of Eurocentrism, in which our social structures are rooted in.

According to Sivertsen et al. (2020), the Western biomedical model that is the foundation of most health care services in Canada, can undermine the traditional values of Indigenous birthers. An example of the standard care being ineffective for indigenous birthers in the postpartum period is the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). According to Chan et al. (2020), the EPDS may lack cross-cultural suitability when applied to Indigenous birthers when screening for postpartum depression. This is due to the difference in conceptualization of mental health (Chan et al., 2020), leading to ineffective screening and interventions resulting in higher rates of postpartum depression. Sivertsen et al. (2020), determined the continuity of care in the postpartum period is hampered by a lack of resources, time constraints, poor attitudes of clinicians and inflexible policies and procedures. The structural issues present in our healthcare system is impeding postpartum care for all, though the consequences for Indigenous peoples are greater due to the health inequities created and maintained by the social structures in Canada (Horrill et al., 2020).

 

Relating culturally safe care to indigenous birthers and the family in the postpartum context, requires nurses to provide culturally competent nursing care. This is defined as “the application of knowledge, skills… required by nurses maximize respectful relationships with diverse populations” (CNA, 2017). To apply this, nurses must avoid ethnocentrism and promote cultural relativism. Cultural relativism (CR) encourages nurses to learn and apply the standards of another culture and understand how different cultural backgrounds may see the same situations differently (Perry et al., 2017). CR “does not require nurses to accept the beliefs and values of another culture. Instead, nurses recognize that the behaviour of others may be based on a system of logic different from their own” (Perry et al., 2017, p. 75). An example of this is using a technique described by Sivertsen et al. (2020) called a two-eyed way of seeing. This means using one eye to learn from Indigenous knowledges and the other eye for Western knowledges, but then using both eyes together to benefit all. This facilitates the honoring of multiple perspectives and is valued by Indigenous people.

In this post, I discussed how the current medical model fails in providing CSC for Indigenous birthers in the post-partum period and how CR is an equitable solution for practitioners and Indigenous birthers. 

 

References

Canadian Nurses Association. (2017). Code of ethics for registered nurses. 

      www.nanb.nb.ca/media/resource/Code_of_Ethics-2017-E.pdf

Chan, A. W., Reid, C., Skeffington, P., & Marriott, R. (2020). A systematic review of EPDS cultural suitability with Indigenous mothers: a global perspective. Archives of Women’s Mental Health, 24. 353-365. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-020-01084-2

Churchill, M. E., Smylie, J. K., Wolfe, S. H., Bourgeois, C., Moeller, H., & Firestone, M. 

      (2020). Conceptualizing cultural safety at an Indigenous-focused midwifery practice in 

      Toronto, Canada: qualitative interviews with Indigenous and non-Indigenous clients. 

      National Library of Medicine, 10.(9). https://doi.org/10.1136%2Fbmjopen-2020-038168

Horrill, T. C., Martin, D. E., Lavoie, J. G., & Schultz, A. S. (2020). Nurses as agents of 

      disruption: Operationalizing a framework to redress inequities in healthcare access 

      among Indigenous Peoples. Nursing Inquiry, 28(3). 

      https://doiorg.uml.idm.oclc.org/10.1111/nin.12394

Northern Health BC. (February 14, 2017). Cultural Safety: Respect and Dignity in 

      Relationships [Video]. Youtube. 

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkxcuhdgIwY&t=76s

Sivertsen, N., Anikeeva, O., Deverix, J., & Grant, J. (2020). Aboriginal and Torres Strait 

      Islander family access to continuity of health care services in the first 1000 days of life: a 

      systematic review of the literature. BMC Health Services Research, 20. 829.

      https://doi-org.uml.idm.oclc.org/10.1186/s12913-020-05673-w

SCIENCE
HEALTH SCIENCE
NURSING
FAMILY SOC FMLY 1420

solved