Caring for a Multicultural Society

Me: How are you?

Patient: Am fine, thank you.

Me: From which country are you? What is the climatic condition of your hometown? How is the economy, political and social life of your country? Is the level of education in your country good, and why did you migrate?

Patient: I come from Oslo, Norway. Oslo is a highland area, with an average temperature of 64⁰F, and it experiences cold seasons in January at the temperatures of 27⁰F. Norway’s economy is outstanding, since it is a developed country. The levels of education are good, and people enjoy making friends with one another. I migrated because I enjoy exploring different parts of the world, and seeking new opportunities.

Me: What is the national language of your home country, and what non-verbal cues are mostly used in the country?

Patient: Norwegian is the national language of Norway, and is spoken by 95% of the total population. There are very many non-verbal cues used in my country, but the most common one is maintaining an eye contact with the speaker. People are also supposed to maintain the sound of their voice while speaking, since shouting is not tolerated.

Me: What is the composition of a family in your home country? What are the gender roles of a family? Are there issues of divorce or single parent families?

Patient:  A family is composed of a father, a mother and children, nuclear families are dominant, while some people tend to cohabit but do not end up getting married. A father is the head of the family, while the mother is tasked with the mandate of taking good care of the family. Mothers are also supposed to advice their children, particularly adolescents. Divorce and single parent families exist, due to family issues.

Me: What are the gender roles, ethnic communication styles and types of healthcare from your home country?

Patient: Men are tasked with the mandate of providing for the family, while women are supposed to take care of their families. However, gender roles may change depending on whether one is a single parent. People are not supposed to greet each other with words like, ‘how are you?’ instead one is supposed to say ‘hello’ without body contact. There are different modes of healthcare ranging from primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare.

Me: What type of Bio-cultural ecology exists in your home country?

Patient: There are people of different races who exist in Norway, with Norwegians leading, followed by Germans, Jews and African Norwegians. Germans’ body stature is similar to that of the Norwegians. Jews are a bit short, and they are also a bit darker as compared to Norwegians, and they have a middle-sized body. African Norwegians are tall, dark and they have a big body stature.

Me: What are the rates of high risk behaviour?

Patient: High risk behaviours are very high, with the abuse of drugs and alcohol being at 45% among the youths, and the rates of divorce being at 67%. Norwegians tend to abuse drugs and alcohol while at their early teenage ages. This consequently leads to addiction in their youth ages, and adult ages too. The rates of divorce in the country are very high, due to the tendency of married people having more than a single sexual partner. The youths do not also abide by the law, hence going against simple rules.

Me: What types of nutritional beliefs does your country have? What nutritional supplements are used for healthcare?

Patient: According to our cultural beliefs, we are supposed to take balanced diets, in order to improve our health. Healthcare practitioners’ advice people to take certain foods in order to improve their health.

Me: What are the child bearing practices in your country?

Patient: Child bearing practices in Norway are very low, since most women use contraceptive and birth control pills. The government pays one for giving birth, in order to encourage most people to give birth.

Me: Which death rituals exist in your country?

Patient: We believe in life after death, where the deceased tends to live another life in a different world. The dead are buried or cremated, after a church service.

Me: Tell us about spirituality in your country.

Patient: The Evangelical Lutheran Christianity dominates in Norway, hence most people are Christians in the country. Most people believe in God, and abide by the dictates of the bible.

Me: What are the healthcare practices in your country?

Patient: Due to high educational levels in the country, most people tend to treat themselves, through getting prescription medication over the counter. In addition, due to high rates of drug addiction among the youths, there are very many rehabilitation facilities in the country.

Me: What are the healthcare practitioners’ concepts in your country?

Patient: The government sponsors healthcare activities in the country, thus access to medical care is free in the country. The gender of the healthcare providers does not matter, since all genders are highly respected in the country.

Reference

Larry, P. (20005). The Purnell Model for Cultural Competence: The Journal of Multicultural Nursing and Health.