NCLEX-CGFNS: Cultural Diversity

When nurse gives care to patient, there are cultural specifics that must be considered. There are nursing cares failed to be implemented not because of incompetent nurse but simply because of culture diversity that not be considered.

Here are the simplest guidelines to understand cultural diversity when caring patient. We can simply say A-B-C-D principles of cultural diversity:


A: Administration of medications that must take into consideration of patient's beliefs and practices.

• Muslim patients will fast during ramadhan month.
• Catholics usually will fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday except for sick patients.
• Jehovah's witnesses-medications are acceptable to the extent necessary.

B: Be familiar with some diseases which are common in specific race

• African: sickle cell anemia and hypertension
• Asian: osteoporosis
• Blacks: cervical cancer (female) and prostate cancer (male)
• Jewish: breast cancer
• Whites: testicular cancer.

C: Communicate properly with specific race patients.

• Asians: rarely communicate their need for pain killer since they were taught self-restraint (stoicism)
• Hispanic women: It is impolite to discuss reproductive organs with male relatives or health care provider.
• Muslim women: prefer to talk to female doctors.

D: Dietary modification for specific race

• Chinese: cold dessert ("YIN") are served after surgery
• Europeans: main meal is served by midday and is usually followed by coffee.
• Jewish: Kosher diet, no meat and dairy products at the same time.
• Muslim: Halal diet (no pork)