ASNA Independent Study Activity - Cultural Assessment of Koreans

Alabama Nurse,  Sep-Nov 2003  by Roberson, Charlene M

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Objectives: At the conclusion of this activity the learner should be able to

1. Rephrase essential elements of a general cultural assessment.

2. Describe the cultural profile of a Korean.

3. Relate how nursing care must be modified to meet the cultural needs of Koreans.

Directions: Read the article carefully. Copy the answer sheet printed at the end of the article (Page 16) and fill out all sections completely. Mail to the address provided along with the appropriate fee. Certificates will be mailed upon successful completion of the post-test. Should you fail the test you will be notified and provided an opportunity to retake the test. All retakes will require an additional fee.

Contact Hours and Accreditation: This activity for one contact hour is provided by the Alabama State Nurses Association, which is an accredited provider of continuing education in nursing by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the Alabama Board of Nursing.

Cultural Assessment of Koreans

Part I: General Cultural Assessments:

These concepts are applicable to any culture not just the Koreans. A comprehensive cultural assessment may take many hours to complete and nurses do not have that kind of time in today's health care environment. Therefore, it is imperative for nurses to employ critical thinking skills to guide the assessment process. An example is the following brief overview of a cultural assessment. Not all questions should be asked; however, all concepts should be reviewed mentally and inquire only about those areas that are pertinent.

* Where was the person born and/or how long have they lived in the US?

* Do they live in an ethnic environment?

* Who are the support people & does the support network speak on behalf of the patient?

* What is the communication style both verbal & non-verbal?

* Does the patient and/or the spokesperson comprehend and communicate inEnglish?

* What are their health & illness practices and customs?

And how will this impact nursing care?

Most institutions use untrained interpreters. One drawback is that their interpretations may be culturally jaded. They often base the interpretations on their own perceptions and may withhold (or not ask) vital information because of potential embarrassment to self, patient, or family members. The following guidelines are suggested when using any interpreter and especially an untrained one such as a family member.

* Meet with the interpreter beforehand and explain the purpose of the translation.

* If the interpreter is a stranger to the patient allow time beforehand for both to develop rapport if at all possible.

* Be patient and allow extra time for the message and the response to be translated. Encourage the translator to use the patient's own words and NOT paraphrase the patient's thoughts.

* Use simple language, no professional jargon, and use short units of speech.

* Ask the same question in more than one way.

* When asking the question look and speak to the patient and not the interpreter.

* Observe non-verbal clues for both the patient and the translator.

Part II: Specifics to the Korean Culture

Family Dynamics: The family unit is very important in Korean culture. It is common for several generations to live in the same home. Elders are especially respected. In the past it was thought that many children were the future stability and security of the family. Today the family unit is breaking down and an increasing number of younger urban Koreans are living in single family units. Even in these single-family units, the family remains important. Koreans believe that their life goals are focused on fulfilling the family roles and obligations. Therefore, family dynamics are centered on nurturing self-esteem, family identification, maintaining honor, and approval , of others. To this end a family considers cohesion, interdependence, and harmony as extremely important. Nurses will notice this when a Korean enters into the health care system accompanied by their multigenerational family members.

Men view their responsibility to be the representative and protector of their family. Although decision-making is family focused with all members having input, the final decision is most often that of the husband, eldest son, or father. It is unthinkable for children to place themselves" in opposition to the wishes of their elders. Obedience is natural. This is evident when children visit someone in the health care setting; they will be well behaved.

It is common to see same sex Koreans walking hand in hand or arm in arm. This merely shows good friendship. The Gay and Lesbian lifestyle is not well tolerated. Most marriages are still arranged. Marital fidelity is extolled and practiced. Often when a woman's husband dies, she will not remarry.

Many Korean women work and their contributions are valued and considered essential to the family. However, women are considered the primary caretakers of the home and children. It is common for women to feel that their greatest achievement is to see that their children do well in school.