PLEASE RESPOND TO THIS
Marissa Mungo
Feb 2, 2022Feb 2 at 11:45am
DISCUSSION 5 AND 6
Module 5 and 6 Discussion: Western Medicine and Diverse Healing Practices
Marissa Mungo
NSP 3185 Professional Ethics
Department of Health Related Programs, Nursing RN to BSN, Florida State College at Jacksonville
Introduction
Healthcare and nursing are two areas that are routinely exposed to varying cultures. All of these cultures have different ways of thinking, especially when it comes to different healing practices. Some cultures believe that a western medicine approach is best for healing practices, while other cultures believe that an eastern medicine approach is best. Regardless of whatever approach is best, there are some cultures where western healing practices can negatively impact patient outcomes. The purpose of this discussion posting is to describe how melorism and standardization can negatively affect patient outcomes, how this experience with healing practices was foreign to western medicine, the learned experiences from this culture, and the application of an ethical principle.
Scenario/Ethical Dilemma
It’s a typical afternoon at Sun Shiny hospital. Leslie is a 74-year-old indigenous female who is alert and oriented that came to the hospital for a fall. Leslie sustain a fracture of her right wrist and is experiencing 6/10 non-radiating pain. Josie who is the registered nurse caring for Leslie gave her an opioid pain medication to help provide break-through relief from the pain. According to western medicine healing practices, Josie is providing care based on both standardization and melorism. Based on standardization in nursing, it is "the process by which healthcare products and services are chosen by a committee of key stakeholders, considering evidence-based results, to ensure quality patient care while adhering to fiscal responsibility" (Stone, 2020). Melorism is "the belief that the world tends to improve and that humans can aid its betterment" (Definition of meliorism, n.d.).
Alternatives and Consequences/Option A versus Option B
The situation could have been handled more culturally sensitive because Josie should have asked Leslie what resources she wanted for pain relief. Standardization is a westernization principle that was applied to the above scenario when opioid was given to the patient for pain relief because evidence-based-practice suggests that pain relief is effective with the use of opioids (Medications: Opioids vs non-opioids | Health management and education | UC Davis Health, n.d.). The western health practice of melorism is applied in the scenario because Josie is using a human constructed tool to assist in pain relief for Leslie. Applying culturally sensitive care would have meant Josie asking Leslie what factors would she like utilized to relieve her pain.
Resolution
Understanding cultural sensitivity is important. Indigenous people often use something known as a Medicine Man who is considered a spiritual leader and traditional healer. Understanding Leslie’s culture is important in providing patient’s with the most culturally competent care. The patient may want to utilize an approach to reduce her pain similar to her own culture or a combined approach, but Josie should ask Leslie in order to respect Leslie’s autonomy. According to Struthers, Eschiti, and Patchell (2008), "[t]his emphasizes the need for nurses and other health care providers to become knowledgeable regarding traditional Indigenous healing that their clients may be receiving, in order to foster open communication." In completion of this cultural discussion on healing practice, knowledge was learned to not standardize care to all patients, but instead ask the patient’s preference.
Conclusion
The purpose of this discussion posting was to describe how melorism and standardization can negatively affect patient outcomes, how this experience with healing practices was foreign to western medicine, the learned experiences from this culture, and the application of an ethical principle. With varying cultures throughout workplaces. it is important to be culturally sensitive to the beliefs of others including patients and coworkers. This is because in order for patient’s to receive the best care and have the best patient outcomes, culturally sensitive care is essential.
References
Definition of meliorism. (n.d.). Dictionary by Merriam-Webster: America’s most-trusted online dictionary. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meliorism (Links to an external site.)
Medications: Opioids vs non-opioids | Health management and education | UC Davis Healtj. (n.d.). UC Davis Health | University of California, Davis. https://health.ucdavis.edu/livinghealthy/topic/pain-management/medications-opioids-vs-non-opioids.html#:~:text=Opioids%20are%20medications%20used%20to,are%20suffering%20from%20chronic%20pain (Links to an external site.)
Stone, J. (2020, January 9). Defining standardization and personalized care. https://blog.medicalgps.com/defining-standardization-and-personalized-care/#:~:text=Standardization%20in%20healthcare%20is%20often,while%20adhering%20to%20fiscal%20responsibility (Links to an external site.)
Struthers, R., Eschiti, V., & Patchell, B. (2008). The experience of being an anishinabe man healer: Ancient healing in a modern world. Journal of Cultural Diversity, 15 (2), 70-75