Multiculturalism and Health

Week 7’s module was discussing the rising population of migrants in Australia’s society today. It was interesting to see that the population’s reason for growth was majority due to migration (60%) rather than because of birth (40%). With this in mind, it is important to understand and adapt to the multiculturalism that is present within society and its impact on health care. I have learnt that with a multicultural population, arises challenges as a health care professional such as language barriers, emotional barriers and cultural barriers. Also, this increase in a culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) population has led to significant changes in health status, as there has been a lot of illnesses among the migrated population. The interview with Mercy Baafi, a migrant from Ghana, showed me that it is important not to make assumptions about people based on their ethnicity, which is a very common misconception that is practiced.

As a future Registered Nurse, this topic would be beneficial for me as it opens my mind up to the respect and compassion that is required on not only a cultural level, but also an emotional level as well. Furthermore, it is important to understand as a health professional how different cultures have an impact on the health system as well as migrants difficulties in accessing health care due to cultural conflictions and barriers. As the migrant population of Australia is the “most vulnerable and in need of support at a far greater level” (Omeri & Raymond, 2011, p.6), I would work cooperatively with the patient in order to ensure their health is not compromised due to their cultural disadvantages.

It is reassuring to know that there are procedures in place to accommodate for CALD patients, such as interpreters or having collaborations with family, where communication would otherwise be obstructed and difficult to achieve. It has made me realise that as a nurse, my role is not only to have medical knowledge but also be able to relate to the patient on a more personal level. If I was to come across a CALD patient in the future, I would ensure that the line of communication is clear and that their cultural beliefs are respected.

Word count: 366

References:

Omeri, A. & Raymond, L. (2011). Diversity in the context of multicultural Australia: Implications for nursing practice. Ch. 19, 3^rd Ed. Australia: Elsevier, Churchill Livingstone.