In the context of Giger and Davidhizar’s Transcultural
Assessment Model (1990, 2002), transcultural nursing
is viewed as a culturally competent practice field that is
client centered and research focused.
Every individual is culturally unique, and nurses are
no exception to this premise. Nonetheless, nurses must
use caution to avoid projecting on the client their own
cultural uniqueness and worldviews if culturally
Appropriate care is to be provided.
What is Communication?
Considerations:
Vocabulary
Grammatical structure
Voice qualities
Intonation
Rhythm
Speed
Silence
Vocabulary
For an Orthodox Jew, the word pig is
synonymous with the word unclean or
unholy and thus should be avoided. On
the other hand, for a pig farmer the word
pig implies a clean, wholesome means of
making a living.
b. language barrier also arise
when the sender uses technical
terms that are unfamiliar to the
receiver.
ex. Nurses use medical terms
when explaining a procedure to
a normal person or patient.
• Use of an interpreter
•Before locating an interpreter, first
know the language the client speaks at
home
•Avoid interpreter from a rival tribe,
state and region
•Be aware of gender differences
»
•Be aware of age differences
•Ask the interpreter to translate as
closely to verbatim as possible
•Expect compensation for services
rendered
Nonverbal - conveyed through facial
expressions and body language, eye
contact, also includes touch and proxemics
• 1. Silence – lack of audible sound
Consider this...
Many American Indians have this latter view of silence, as do
some traditional Chinese and Japanese persons. Therefore, when
one of these persons is speaking and suddenly stops, what may be
implied is that the person wants the nurse to consider the content
of what has been said before continuing. Other cultures may use
silence in yet other ways. For example, English and Arabic persons
use silence for privacy, whereas Russian, French, and Spanish
persons may use silence to indicate agreement between parties.
Some persons in Asian cultures may view silence as a sign of
respect, particularly toward an elder. Mexicans may use silence
when instructions are given by a person in authority rather than
showing the disrespect of disagreement (Quarnero, 2005). Nurses
need to be aware of possible meanings of silence so that personal
anxiety does not promote the silence to be interrupted prematurely
or to be nontherapeutic. A nurse who understands the therapeutic
value of silence can use this understanding to enhance care of
clients from other cultures.
Silence across the world…
❖ Native North American
= consider silence essential to
undeSirlesntcaeancdrosinstgheawonrldd…respecting other
person
❖French, Spanish & Eastern
European
= interpret silence as a sign
of agreement
• African American
• = used in response to a
question perceived as
inappropriate
2. Facial expressions
❖ used as a guide to a person’s
feelings
❖ vary from culture toculture
Facial expressions across theworld…
➢AFRICAN AMERICANS
AND SPANISH
Use many facial expressionsalong
with gestures to communicate
feelings of happiness, pain or
displeasure
•NORTHERN EUROPEANS
➢Tend to use less facial
expression and aregenerally
less responsive
ASIANS
➢ Uses facial expression to
convey opposite meaning
from the one that is felt.
➢ Conceal negative emotions
with a smile
