d. Over Dependency or Feelings of Helplessness.
(1) Over dependency is a response characterized by feelings of
helplessness while trying to search for help and understanding (to an extent beyond
what is considered normal).
(2) Helplessness is a response characterized by feelings of being unable to
avoid an unpleasant experience.
(3) While healthy people may show some degree of dependence on others
during illness, this dependence often increases to the point of being harmful to the
patient.
(4)
The over dependent patient may be fearful or angry.
1-26. CLOSING
There are as many reactions to illness as there are patients. Your kindness and
understanding will help your patient to go through the hospitalization experience with a
minimum of stress and anxiety.
Section IV. TRANSCULTURAL FACTORS INFLUENCING NURSING CARE
1-27. INTRODUCTION
Transcultural nursing refers to the nursing care of all patients, taking into
consideration their religious and sociocultural backgrounds. There are many variables
to consider in giving nursing care to a person of a race, religion, or culture different from
your own. Respect for the patient, however, is something all aspects of transcultural
nursing have in common.
1-28. MAJOR FACTORS IN TRANSCULTURAL NURSING
b. Beliefs about illness, its causes and cures.
c. Disorders specific to a particular group, such as the high incidence of sickle
cell anemia among the Blacks.
d. Specific anatomical characteristics (e.g, stature, skin tone, hair texture).
e. Religious beliefs about illness and death.
MD0905
1-21