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Nurse’s Notes - Celebrate diversity, even in care
by MARY ANNE SLADICH-LANTZ

“If the only prayer you ever say is, 'thank you,’ that would suffice.”

- Meister Eckhart, German theologian

This week we celebrate the feast of Thanksgiving. When we take a moment to reflect and be thoughtful, this time of year provides us an opportunity to pause from our regular routine to be grateful, to give thanks, to recognize the abundance of all that is good around us. We want to gather with others to share a feast. We don’t want anyone to be alone.

So, perhaps the “theme” of Thanksgiving is gratitude for togetherness.

From our grade school days, we remember learning about the first Thanksgiving when the pilgrims joined to share a feast with Native Americans. This first meal symbolized the true meaning of togetherness acknowledging that it was a blending of cultures, of people very different from one another coming together to be grateful for the harvest and even more grateful for their very lives. From then on, the diversity of people immigrating to the United States has been one of our proudest statements - we are the “melting pot of the world.” It has been this diversity, this blending of cultures that has helped us to create a stronger, richer country.

We would probably all agree that the differences between us allow us to be more creative. But when we come to the table, each with our own world view and vision for what could be, we have the ability to determine what is best for the common good, not just the individual. What sometimes gets in the way is our judgment and criticism of one another, and rather than seeing what’s best for all and what unites us, we focus on our differences and what separates us.

Think about our tradition - blending cultures, blending our differences. How do we acknowledge our differences - not as a way of seeing separation, but respectfully and with appreciation for all that unites us as human beings?

It used to be in health care that no one needed to know a patient’s culture to provide excellent care. However, we have come to know that when a person’s cultural practices and personal beliefs are acknowledged in the health care setting, greater healing is possible. Not stereotyping, but understanding some of the general information about a culture different than one’s own - and then not being afraid to ask and learn allows for an even greater openness in the caregiving/receiving relationship. What we often come to realize is that there is much more that unites us than separates us.

Adapting to different cultural beliefs and practices requires openness and a respect for others viewpoints. We need to really listen to the patient, to find out and learn about the patient’s beliefs of health and illness. Culture influences how people seek health care and how they behave toward health care providers.

Think how many different things might contribute to cultural misunderstandings:

• Religious beliefs.

• Food requirements and prohibitions.

• Nonverbal communication.

• Personal space.

• Tone of voice.

• Interpretation of time.

• Privacy.

• Special clothing.

• Death rituals.

• Gender expectations.

• Expectations of elders and children.

• Family relationships.

• Care of the body.

• Home and folk remedies.

• Health practices.

Perhaps during this special season of Thanksgiving, you will take a moment to be more aware of and to be grateful for the blessings of our multicultural nation.

“Humankind has not woven the web of life.

“We are but one thread within it.

“Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves.

“All things are bound together.

“All things connect.”

- Chief Seattle, 1854

Mary Anne Sladich-Lantz is vice president of mission leadership at St. Patrick Hospital and Health Sciences Center.
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Rob Lahr wrote on Dec 1, 2008 9:31 PM:

" Well it is true that God did not intend for us all to be the same.We all have different dreams,ideas,talents,and definately different personalities.But it is important that we do not get to diversified and it is not healthy for our next generation of leaders to grow up thinking they can do whatever they want and be whatever they want and act however they want. In doing that they have a lack of respect for others.We need to teach our children to stand up for what is right,not just what feels good.You said Humankind has not woven the web of life.Well man left to himself never,never,never will because they have kicked God out of the picture,and so we go down,and we will celebrate ourselves right into a hole wondering what happened.JESUS CHRIST said "IAM THE WAY THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE NO MAN COMETH UNTO THE FATHER BUT BY ME".I hope you all have a merry CHRISTmas. "

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