Hmong people, as their own ethnic group, were spotted in Southeast Asia, notably in Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, and China. Having fled the war in Vietnam, they became refugees and started to resettle in the United States from the 1970s onwards. Policulturalism is a big challenge since Hmong persons have lived in the U.S. within the modern world for more than 40 years but are still closely connected to their cultural beliefs and customs. Thus, cultural closeness highly impacts their health views and healthcare-seeking patterns. The Hmong population is exposed to multiple challenges, such as language barriers, medical literacy poverty, social and economic struggles, and distrust of the Western healthcare basics, which causes major health inequality. American Hmong population is estimated at about 309,564, making their community quite representative of a segment of the country with unique cultural features crucial for nurses to be sensitive about to give high-quality care.
Effective communication in long-term Hmong patients holds the key in that language barriers and cultural differences are essential. I know that a patient-oriented communication style pays attention not only to the spoken and unspoken signals (Giger & Haddad, 2021). Considering that the parents of the two-year-old patient are not native English speakers, I would use an experienced interpreter who is a translator in both English and Hmong languages, thus ensuring that the transmission of the information is done accurately. Data also extends to verbal communication, making me aware of the sensitivities of non-verbal cues like body language and facial expressions that might convey significant information about a person’s attitude. Furthermore, among my techniques is applying a communication style suitable for the family depending on their ideas about health, disease, and cultural values, paying utmost respect to them as well. Visual aids during the session will help foster better understanding and rapport with the family (Kapur, 2020). By adopting a whole entity approach to communication, my goal is to create trust and productive relationships with the Hmong household, whereby the quality and standard of care for their loved ones are also improved.
Consideration of the Hmong family’s privacy is a critical strategy in building trust and letting them settle into a relationship with the healthcare attendants. Based on what was being taught in the class, I would employ the conception of proxemics. This theory includes the analysis of customs around space preferences across different cultures. Recognizing that when it comes to personal space, Hmong culture may be different from Western norms, I would interact with the patient in a way that guarantees that the individual’s preference for personal space is appropriately respected. Being aware of physical closeness to Hmong as representing warmth and connection, I will maintain a reasonable distance from the family but be ready for closer relations if they initiate such offers (Ali et al., 2020). I would pay attention to the non-verbal clues the family members gave to learn their comfort level concerning physical apartness. Furthermore, I would ensure that establishing a confidential and private area for dialogs comes first. I would take into account the fact that confidentiality should be respected.
Considering the accounting, many Hmong families do not have health education; I would be committed to simple wording and visual aids to communicate knowledge properly. In addition, I am careful about the issues that concern them because of the culture. For example, cultural beliefs such as traditional healing practices and concerns about the soul are essential to the family (Vang & Vang, 2019). Regarding the cases of blood draws or diagnostic tests, where some underlying cultural beliefs may result in fear and mistrust, I would be willing to address the matter. Besides, I admit that working in a team of culturally competent medical professionals to ensure holistic medical treatment is significant, too. Developing collaborative relationships with cultural liaisons from the Hmong community or through cultural leaders will better enhance the healthcare delivery process by enlightening about culture-specific patterns and guidelines. I intend to carry out these strategies to gain the trust of the Hmong patients and families, thus providing culturally sensitive care.
Conducting Hmong patients informational sessions for ‘ and patients infofamiliesizing adapts and approaches guaranteed to be in concordance with their cultural backgrounds and preferences, which is one of the things I will consider when doing that. First, ensure the materials offered for learning are translated into the Hmong language so they are sufficient for understanding. Besides, I plan to use general ways of listening and telling stories to gather information since the Hmong people highly admire oral traditions (Vang & Vang, 2019). In the third place, I would stress that both Western medicine and Indigenous healing modalities be used to achieve the balance between conflict and harmony to motivate the family of the two-year-old to accept and comply with treatment orders. Moreover last but not least, I would urge family involvement by walking them through practical hands-on demonstrations and creating knowledgeable people who will take an active role in the child’s well-being. Through applying these strategies, I will make sure that the educational materials and approaches are sophisticated and designed to work for the Hmong community patients and their families.
In conclusion, working with Hmong patients requires taking into account their specific ethnic background, such as language difficulties, strong family ties, and the problems facing the healthcare system. Effective communication, privacy and respect, and adjustment of nursing duties to each culture are the fundamental concepts of culturally sensitive care. In this scenario, being keen on having a good translator, using visual illustration, and describing traditional medicine are some of the vital strategies in communication and nursing approaches. Among the patient education modifications would be to ensure that the patient education materials are translated into the Hmong language. Cultural competence is crucial in helping nurses care for fortunate populations like the Hmong.
Ali, A. H., Kang, M. S., Kaur, K., Al adhami, S., & Yuvienco, C. R. (2020). Review of Hmong-related health problems: A quick guide for healthcare providers. Cureus, 12(8). https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.9808
Giger, J. N., & Haddad, L. (2021). Transcultural Nursing: Assessment and Intervention (8th ed.). Elsevier.
Kapur, R. (2020, September). (PDF) The Elements of Communication. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/344215245_The_Elements_of_Communication
Vang, K. K. K. M., & Vang, K. K. K. M. (2019, July 28). Culture and Health Disparities: Hmong Health Beliefs and Practices in the United States. Stti.confex.com; STTI. https://stti.confex.com/stti/congrs19/webprogram/Paper100439.html