Defining Transcultural Diversity in Health Care

Topic 1 DQ 1

"Variant characteristics of culture" include nationality, race, age, color, religious affiliation, educational status, socioeconomic status, occupation, military experience, political beliefs, urban versus rural residence, enclave identity, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, gender issues, physical characteristics, immigration status, and length of time away from the country of origin.

Which characteristics can change, and which cannot? Discuss how these, whether changing or stable, can influence one's worldview.

Topic 1 DQ 2

How does cultural competency occur? What can one do to become culturally aware? Describe an effective approach to using The Purnell Model when working with subcultures (immigration status, gender, political beliefs, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, educational status, etc.).

 Topic 2 DQ 1

From your readings, which cultural difference would be most challenging for you to understand? Why? How would you prepare to work with individuals from this culture in order to respect their culture?

 Topic 2 DQ 2

If health care practitioners cannot communicate to the patients in their language, how important is it to find a translator? Whose problem is it, the health care provider's or the patient's? Why?