African American Heritage Paper Essay

This paper explores the African American heritage and also identifies the significance of nurses being culturally aware, sensitive and competent when caring for people of African American heritage. Although these terms mentioned above are used interchangeably, they have different meanings. Cultural awareness is appreciating the external or material part of the culture, such as the music, arts, and physical characteristics, and dress. Cultural sensitivity is the personal attitudes toward the culture, such as not saying things that is offensive to someone from a different ethnic or cultural background (Purnell,2013, p. 4). Cultural competence is putting it all together; by using your knowledge to provide culturally congruent care and to be able to work effectively with people in cross- cultural situations. African Americans are the second largest ethnocultural groups in the United States; however, it is one of the most misunderstood cultures. This culture is so unique because they have mixed their cultures from their different homes of origin in Africa, along with American culture. This paper overviews the history, communications, family roles, workforce issues, biocultural ecology, high-risk behaviors, pregnancy and childbearing practices, spirituality, health care practices, nutrition, and death rituals in the African American culture. It is important that nurses see themselves as becoming culturally competent when caring for African Americans, and this involves incorporating cultural desire, cultural awareness, cultural knowledge, cultural skill, and cultural encounter with the people of African American heritage (Campinha-Bacote, 2009). 2 A NURSING METHOD TO AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE One of the largest minority groups in the United States, African Americans culture includes the various cultural traditions of different African ethnic groups. â€Å"Data from the U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census (2001) reveals that there are approximately 34,333,000 African Americans residing in the United States, representing 12. 1% of the total population† (Campinha-Bacote, 2009). They were forcibly imported into the United States as slaves from 1619 to 1860 (Purnell, 2013, p. 21). During slavery, they incorporated their culture from their homes of origin, and as a result, their culture included several cultural traditions of African ethnic groups. Many African Americans live in poverty due to discrimination and lack of proper education. Most families of African American heritage value education, but they still struggle to have equal representation in the workplace, and are more likely to work in a hazardous environment, resulting in job related diseases and illness. Due to the lower-level positions and the difficulty in achieving higher opportunities in the workplace, some African Americans continue to feel discouraged. Nurses need to address discrimination and also issues that create ethnic or racial tension in the workplace. English is the language spoken by African Americans, however, people of lower socio economical status communicate in an informal language known as African American English (AAE) (Purnell, 2013, p. 22). According to Campinha-Bacote (2009), the major problem that AAE speakers face is prejudice. Most people believe that AAE is inferior to Standard American English. As a result, African Americans who speak AAE are sometimes misinterpreted as being uneducated. Nurses should be aware not to stereotype African Americans as only speaking AAE, and also not to stereotype them as uneducated based on the way they communicate. African Americans are expressive when 3. A NURSING METHOD TO AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE communicating and often use body languages to convey their feelings. Their expressive language and body movement can be misconstrued as anger or provocation. Nurses need to be familiar with these characteristics and not misinterpret them. As a nurse, when interacting with African Americans for the first time, be sure to address them formally, until given permission to use other names, such as their first name. The African-American family has evolved over the last two decades and still continues to evolve. A person that is brought up in a traditional nuclear family is more likely to continue that tradition. Whereas, a person that is brought up in a single parent home is more likely to continue that same tradition. Although these situations are more likely, they are not always so. To provide the most competent care, the best thing for the nurse to do would be to ask the patient in a non-judgmental way about family dynamics and also ask them what they would feel the most comfortable with when it comes to decision making for their care. The nurse should then accept this decision. Being knowledgeable about this cultural group’s family values and beliefs are crucial for providing care for the African American patient (Revell & McGhee, 2012). A high percentage of African American households are matriarchal and fall below poverty level. With that being said, it is wise for nurses to make a point of including women when discussing health care issues. Nurses also should take note when dealing with homosexual individuals in this ethnic group, not to break confidence by sharing their lifestyles with others. This information can jeopardize and cause conflicts within the family and ruin relationships. Romantic relationships of the same-sex are not totally acceptable within this culture. 4 A NURSING METHOD TO AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE As in many culture, social status is important in African American community. African Americans are often met with negative atmosphere and prejudice attitudes based on their cultural background and skin color. Assumptions are made based on AAE spoken by some as an indication of unintelligence and the lack of education. These assumptions sometimes affect employment opportunities and job promotions. Nurses should be cautious not to fall into the stereotyping African Americans based on these characteristics. African American skin color ranges from light to very dark due to the combination of a gene pool of more than 100 racial strains (Purnell, 2013, p. 25). When assessing for cyanosis in dark-skinned African Americans, be sure to pay attention to the oral mucosa or conjunctiva. When assessing for pallor, note the absence of the underlying red tones that give the skin it’s glow. Lastly, when observing for jaundice, be sure to look at the sclera of the eyes, the soles of the feet, and the palms of the hands for any yellow discoloration (25). Health care is a luxury that low socioeconomic African Americans may not be able to afford. Meeting their daily needs takes priority over what they believe to be minor health issues. Consequently, diseases that could be treatable might end up being a life- threatening situation. African Americans are family orientated, because of this; some tend to initially seek medical attention from family members rather than going to a health care professional. Health care professionals need to be aware of this and work toward teaching and distributing health information via church and community centers. Most African American women are against abortion due to religious, cultural, and moral beliefs. As a result, there is a delay in making a decision until it becomes too late. 5 A NURSING METHOD TO AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE Family support is crucial for pregnant African American women. Gichia (2000) studied and found out that African American women look for role models such as older female relatives, or if they have none, they look for someone who seemed like a mother to them, such as a neighbor. These role models can provide the pregnant woman and new mother with needed support. According to Abbyad & Robertson (2011), nurses caring for pregnant African American women need to be informed about the variety of ways in which childbirth preparation can occur, as in any other group of pregnant women. Moreover, nurses need to consider the ways in which their attitudes and behaviors send unwelcoming messages to African American women seeking prenatal care or childbirth classes. These attitudes can discourage the African American woman in seeking further care. â€Å"Culturally competent care for the childbearing African American woman includes addressing all components of care including the use of complementary and alternative medicine† (Revell, 2012). The childbirth nurse that is providing culturally competent care should be aware that the perceived norm is different for every family. African Americans are spiritual and are usually affiliated with some religious order. Historically, the church has played a major role in the life of African American culture. The church is a place where they can meet on common grounds. Faith and prayer is one of the most important attributes of Christian African Americans. They believe that God has the power to heal them, and he also has the power not to. They believe that whatever happens to them is according to God’s will. Food is very valuable in the African American culture. It symbolizes health and wealth. It is derived from African descent. When food is offered to someone, it means that the person is valued; and by offering food, they are given you something that is 6 A NURSING METHOD TO AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE valuable to them. When it comes to nutrition, some African American diets are high in cholesterol and fats. According to James (2004), â€Å"African Americans will need information on basic nutrition topics such as serving sizes and reading food labels†. Nurses that work in African American communities should be involved in programs that promote healthy food choices. These programs can specifically be developed for churches, neighborhood grocery stores, and local restaurants. â€Å"Health disparities among the African-American population include life expectancy, heart disease, hypertension, infant morality and morbidity rates, cancer, sickle cell diseases, HIV/AIDS, violence, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and asthma† (Campinha-Bacote, 2009). Unfortunately, they have the tendency to see a health care professional only when absolutely necessary. â€Å" Health is viewed as harmony with nature, whereas illness is seen as a disruption in this harmonic state due to demons† (Purnell,2013, p. 33). Recognize and support your patient cultural behaviors and believes to promote healthy interactions. In addition, always provide factual information about health practices that may not be understood due to their cultural believes and cultural differences. In conclusion, it is recommended that nurses familiarize themselves with cultural specific information in order to provide cultural competent care in African American community. Nurses should consider the following question: â€Å"In caring for African- American patients, have I asked myself the right questions. † It is important for nurses to be aware of their biases and prejudices toward African Americans. In addition, they should possess the needed skills to conduct a cultural assessment while possessing knowledge of this cultural group (Campinha-Bacote, 2009). Lastly, nurses should always 7 A NURSING METHOD TO AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE have the desire to become culturally competent not just with African American patients, but any patient that has been placed in their charge. 8 A NURSING METHOD TO AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE Resources Abbyad, C. , & Robertson, T. (2011). African American Women’s Preparation for Childbirth From the Perspective of African American Health-Care Providers. Journal Of Perinatal Education, 20(1), 45-53. doi:10. 1891/1058-1243. 20. 1. 45 Campinha-Bacote, J. (2009). Culture and diversity issues. A culturally competent model of care for African Americans. Urologic Nursing, 29(1), 49-54. Gichia, J. E, (2000), Mothers and others: African-American women’s preparation for motherhood. The American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing, 25(2), 86-91, James, D. (2004). Factors influencing food choices, dietary intake, and nutrition-related attitudes among African Americans: application of a culturally sensitive model. Ethnicity & Health, 9(4), 349-367. Purnell, L. D. (2009). People of African American Heritage. Guide to culturally competent health care (2nd ed. , p. 21-35). Philadelphia: F. A. Davis Co. Revell, M. A. , & McGhee, M. N. (2012). Evolution of the African American Family. International Journal Of Childbirth Education, 27(4), 44-48. Revell, M. A. (2012). Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the African American Culture. International Journal Of Childbirth Education, 27(3), 55-59.

Free Essays on A Reflection On The Narnian Chronicles

. He spoke the world into existence. He spoke into the vast expanse and created night, day, seas, land, sky, animals, and everything He saw fit for His purpose. Though there was already land in existence in the magical other world, the notion of â€Å"Narnia† was born simply through Aslan’s use of both song and speech. By singing, Aslan brought about the stars and the sun. He began another song, and all around him as he walked grass sprouted underfoot and quickly spread all around, and trees began to take root and grow in the valley. Aslan’s song is analogous to the voice of God during the creation of the world. God breathed life into Adam, the first human to walk the earth. Aslan as well gave life through his breath into the animals of Narnia. Though the animals were already physically alive, their lack of knowledge and speech prevented them from being characterized as true citizens of Narnia. That is until Aslan breathed the ability of speech into the chosen... Free Essays on A Reflection On The Narnian Chronicles Free Essays on A Reflection On The Narnian Chronicles A Reflection on the Narnian Chronicles Throughout the C.S.Lewis series, The Narnian Chronicles, there are many indirect references to the Christian faith and the Bible itself. Through the use of allegories, Lewis provides his readers with a link to explore and contemplate this â€Å"other world.† Though allegorical instances are prevalent throughout the entire series, they are particularly ubiquitous in both â€Å"The Magician’s Nephew† and in â€Å"The Silver Chair.† Aslan the lion is portrayed as the Christ figure in Lewis’ books. As you progress through the novels, it becomes more and more apparent that there is a strong connection between God (or Jesus) and Aslan. This first becomes evident in â€Å"The Magician’s Nephew.† The first connection that is established between â€Å"The Magician’s Nephew† and the Bible (particularly Genesis 1) is the notion of and occurrence of creation. In the Bible, everything was created merely from God’s words. He spoke the world into existence. He spoke into the vast expanse and created night, day, seas, land, sky, animals, and everything He saw fit for His purpose. Though there was already land in existence in the magical other world, the notion of â€Å"Narnia† was born simply through Aslan’s use of both song and speech. By singing, Aslan brought about the stars and the sun. He began another song, and all around him as he walked grass sprouted underfoot and quickly spread all around, and trees began to take root and grow in the valley. Aslan’s song is analogous to the voice of God during the creation of the world. God breathed life into Adam, the first human to walk the earth. Aslan as well gave life through his breath into the animals of Narnia. Though the animals were already physically alive, their lack of knowledge and speech prevented them from being characterized as true citizens of Narnia. That is until Aslan breathed the ability of speech into the chosen...

DQ2 Example

DQ2_05 Example DQ2_05 – Coursework Example QD2_05: Intergovernmental Relationships QD2_05 Currently, the public health sector stands amidst various uncertainties which must bediligently tackled to ensure continued success in the sector. Notably, the sector has various pillars including the public body and governmental entities; both federal and national. Such pillars must exist in harmonious systems in which a collaborative approach to public health issues is promoted (Scutchfield adoption of frameworks that can be relied upon to deliver social justice to the patients and clients of the public health sector. In this regard, it is evident that social justice in public health is attainable through collaborative efforts among different governmental agencies. Such collaborative approaches must be able to eliminate selective justice which has often prevailed in healthcare systems. Indeed, successful adoption of comprehensive all-inclusive healthcare policies can only be possible if all stakeholders to the sector are able to come together in pursuit of a common goal (Magnussen, Ehiri & Jolly, 2004). However, politicization of various policies aimed at enhancing patient safety, and successful adoption of various policies can have negative impacts on the public health sector as noted by Bauer (2004). However, there is need for guidance and positive political involvement in the policy-making process to promote successful adoption of policies. ReferencesAwofeso, N. (2004). What’s new about the â€Å"new public health†?.  Journal Information,  94(5). Canadian Healthcare Manager. (2004). Patients vs Politics Gabrielle Bauer. Canadian Healthcare Manager. Toronto. Vol 11. Iss. (3), 42. Magnussen, L., Ehiri, J., & Jolly, P. (2004). Comprehensive versus selective primary health care: lessons for global health policy.  Health affairs,  23(3), 167-176.Morales, L. S., Rogowski, J., Freedman, V. A., Wickstrom, S. L., Adams, J. L., & Escarce, J. J. (2004). Use of preventive services by men enrolled in Medicare+ Choice plans.  American journal of public health,  94(5), 796-802.Scutchfield, F. D. & Keck, C.W. (2003). Principles of public health practices (2nd. ed.) New York: Thomson Delmar Learning. Chs 6-8, 75-138.

Biotechnology

Biotechnology Essay The welfare and development of todays student-athlete is central to the administration of Big Ten Conference intercollegiate athletics. Providing opportunity for young men and women to mature in a wholesome and healthy way is critically important to our universities. A commitment exists at all levels of our universities to providing the resources to support the welfare of Big Ten student-athletes. At the 1996 NCAA Convention, the Division I membership debated a number of issues related to financial assistance for student-athletes. Limitations on Pell Grants, stipends awarded by the federal government for educational purposes, were removed. Discussions took place, and continue to occur, on ways to liberalize rules on how student-athletes can earn money from work done during the off-season. Around the same time, the NCAA Executive Committee increased the annual funding of the special assistance fund from $3 million to $10 million. Big Ten institutions provide more than 6,400 young men and women opportunities to play on 250 intercollegiate teams. These young people receive more than $42 million annually from Big Ten institutions in grants-in-aid (tuition, room and board, books). While receiving the opportunity for a world-class education, they compete with and against some of the finest amateur athletes in the country. Needy student-athletes in the Big Ten may receive up to $2,000 annually above the value of their grant-in-aid via federal aid and are eligible for cash payments from the special assistance fund for items like clothing, emergency trips home and other special needs. Big Ten universities also assist student-athletes in identifying summer employment opportunities, career placement and catastrophic-injury insurance plans. They also assist with a $1 million insurance plan that financially protects student-athletes with professional sports aspirations in the event they suffer a disabling injury. Today, the system that served so many so well and for so long is being called into question by the media, the public and even by some coaches and student-athletes. They assert that some student-athletes in football and basketball should be paid for their participation. They believe that the market forces that drive professional sports, or any other private-sector activity, should provide the controlling principle for the relationship between the student-athlete and the university. This issue of financial assistance for student-athletes is critical to defining and examining the relationship between intercollegiate athletics and higher education as we approach the 21st century. While we must be open to novel approaches and new ideas, paying student-athletes to play is not supportable within the context of Big Ten intercollegiate athletics now or in the future. In my view, revenues derived from intercollegiate athletics are the sole property of the institution and should be expended in support of the broadest array of mens and womens educational and athletics opportunities. Thus, revenues are earned in private-sector activity and spent within the confines of the university for appropriate educational purposes. Some critics of college athletics cite the economic and educational exploitation of the student-athletes who participate in our major revenue sports as a major flaw in the system. We believe the educational and the lifetime economic benefits associated with a university education are the appropriate quid pro quo for any Big Ten student-athlete, regardless of the sport. For many decades, Big Ten intercollegiate athletics has been funded largely by revenues from mens basketball and football programs. This situation is not likely to change in the foreseeable future. Our institutions have sponsored sports programs that enabled outstanding athletes such as Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, Red Grange, Archie Griffin, John Havlicek and Dick Butkus (the list is endless) to obtain an education and play their sport, in turn providing resources for educational and athletics opportunities for such people as Suzy Favor, Jesse Owens, Mark Spitz and Jack Nicklaus. Under this system, people like John Wooden and Gerald Ford played alongside student-athletes much less famous, but equally deserving of an intercollegiate athletics experience. Intercollegiate athletics has provided, and will continue to provide, opportunities for social mobility through education for future generations of young men and women. We must ensure that all young people admitted to our universities are prepared to compete academically so that the overall student-athlete academic outcomes are compatible with their peers within the general student population. Recent efforts to raise NCAA initial-eligibility standards are attempts to counter the argument that unprepared student-athletes are being admitted and then exploited for their athletics contributions. Ten mens basketball and football events and more than 300 million Americans watch these sports on television. Ticket and television revenues derived from those sources are shared among our members so that each university can sponsor the .

Leadership styles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Leadership styles - Essay Example There are numerous leadership styles but this paper will specifically focus on Lewin’s leadership styles namely: democratic/participative, laissez faire, autocratic as well as transactional and transformational leadership styles which are more recent. Kurt Lewin, a psychologist developed a framework of three leadership styles in 1930s and these styles were later to become a benchmark for developing styles of leadership. Lewin’s styles of leadership include the following, autocratic, laissez faire and autocratic (Amos et al., 2008). Autocratic leadership style is usually carried by leaders who make all the decisions in the organization alone (Amos et al, 2008). These leaders use authoritarian rule and they do not bother consult other members of the team when they are making decisions in the organization. The leader who uses this style has the final authority to make any decision in the organization and it can also be noted that the communication channel used is top to bottom where the subordinates are mere takers of instructions from the top. In other words, they just respond to what has been said from the top without any contribution. The subordinates can hardly interact with their leaders. This leadership style is oriente d towards goal attainment of the organization and improving productivity at the expense of the employees who also have their personal goals to achieve outside work. This style leads to demotivation of the employees and can subsequently lead to absenteeism or staff turnover since the workers are not motivated to put optimum performance in their operations. Laisez fair is another leadership style developed by Lewin which emphasises on giving the employees freedom to manage their own affairs (Kleyhnhans, 2007). In other words, the employees work with very little or no supervision at all and they are responsible for setting their own goals

Different aspects of domestic violence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Different aspects of domestic violence - Essay Example It is this definition that has been the basis of evolution for policing policies as applied to domestic violence. The trend in policing today is for the police department to compose of a triage. For example, in many police departments across the United States, when an officer responds to a domestic violence call, he/she may contact the dispatcher, who will call the Crisis Center for Women 24-hour hot line. Then the Crisis Center sends a response van to the scene and will transport the victim and children to the Center's shelter. The Center will also provide transportation to court appearances and provide court advocacy. This on-scene response is available for all situations, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. After the on-scene response is complete, the case is turned over to the domestic violence unit, which consists of two full-time investigators who handle all incoming cases. Defenders of mandatory arrest and prosecution policies contend that battered women are too helpless and fearful to make appropriate decisions about the arrest or prosecution of their attackers. While this may be true for some women, preliminary evidence shows that the option to decide sometimes provides the perfect avenue for expressing unrealized strength and power. Accordingly, it is premature to judge whether the mandatory rule is actually working. A great deal of the responsibility for preparing for and responding to terrorist events rests with local police departments. Community policing presents an overarching philosophical orientation that agencies can use to better deal with the threat of terrorist events and the fear that they may create. The community policing philosophy can be roughly divided into three interrelated elements: organizational change, problem solving, and external partnerships. Each element applies to the issues of terrorism prevention and response, as well as to fear. Since 9/11, the federal government has greatly increased terrorism prevention and response efforts. However, a large degree of responsibility for dealing with these threats and for alleviating citizen fear rests at the local level. To some degree, the majority of local police departments in the United States have worked to reduce the fear of future terrorist attacks and to prevent and plan for attacks. Law enforcement officials are strategi cally rethinking public security procedures and practices to maximize the potential of their resources. The philosophy of community policing is important for police in preparing for possible terrorist acts and in responding to the fear they may create. Community policing involves broadening the nature and number of police functions compared to traditional policing models. It emphasizes organizational change, active problem solving, and external partnerships to address issues that concern both the police and citizens. In recent years, the philosophy of community policing appears to have been adopted to differing degrees by a large number of law enforcement entities in the United St

Setting plays a crucial role in both of these stories. Discuss the Essay

Setting plays a crucial role in both of these stories. Discuss the importance of setting and how it contributes to the stories plots and resolutions - Essay Example the fifth or sixth month of his seclusion, and while the pestilence raged most furiously abroad, that the Prince Prospero entertained his thousand friends at a masked ball of the most unusual magnificence†(Poe, 251). This is a significant contrast of events occurring simultaneously, a deadly disease and a magnificent ball. The story essentially follows Prince Prospero from his seclusion to the time of his marvelous masquerade at his abbey. It is within his abbey that Prince Prospero desperately tries to hide himself from the horrible â€Å"red death†, but is eventually victim to death at his very own masquerade within his abbey. This is ultimately a setting of hiding and a contrast between reality and human disillusionment. Despite his efforts to avoid the â€Å"red death†, Prince Prospero succumbs to inevitable fate within the very bungalow that he used as a hiding place from a would be death. Ultimately, the setting of this piece is a grand disillusionment on the part of the Prince. In the piece written by Susan Glaspell, Trifles, the reader finds a more elemental setting. This piece introduces itself within the kitchen of a now abandoned farmhouse. This is of course the farmhouse kitchen of the Wright’s, and a very unkempt kitchen at that. This is a clue to the chaos of the situation that plays out within the piece, â€Å"The kitchen in the now abandoned farmhouse of John Wright, a gloomy kitchen, and left without having been put in order - the walls covered with a faded wallpaper†(Glaspell, 1290). The setting that the reader finds in Trifles is more realistic and conducive to the plot than that of the setting of The Masque of the Red Death. Trifles is an illustration of a woman pushed entirely too far and too long by her husband. Finally, she murders her husband and naturally, the kitchen is a mess. The entirety of the piece takes place within the home of the Wrights, a simple farmhouse showing signs of a tremulous marriage at best. The clichà ©