<p>"The text is engaging, with interesting case studies, guided reflection and an excellent bibliography and glossary. There is also a helpful chapter on UK nursing."</p><p>Bethann Siviter, <em>Nursing Standard</em>, 10-Jun-09</p>
Good communication is an essential part of delivering effective nursing care. Nursing students work in a variety of multicultural settings and therefore it is imperative that they fully understand their own cultural context and that of others.
This text illustrates the important differences between cultures and how these differences can enhance practical nursing. Through the comprehensive use of case studies and interactive exercises, the book invites students to reflect on their own knowledge and skills about culture so that they can learn to communicate in a more effective and culturally sensitive way. All theory is applied to nursing practice to demonstrate how situations can arise and be dealt with appropriately whilst working on clinical placement.
This text is written for students studying the CFP at Year 1. Communication will be studied either as part of a Professional Issues module, or Nursing Practice.
Introduction
Chapter 1: Thinking about culture
Chapter 2: Communication, nursing and culture
Chapter 3: Communication skills
Chapter 4: Culture and communication in Thai nursing: an example of a different culture
Chapter 5: Learning culture
Chapter 6: Beliefs and religion
Chapter 7: Cultural pitfalls, advice on working in the UK and culture and stress in nursing
Chapter 8: Developing cultural awareness
Glossary
References
The aim of the book, more than anything, is to make you think about culture and communication. Although books cannot automatically change practice, it is hoped that through observing and thinking about the ways in which we communicate from a cultural point of view we can also begin to change our practice.
From the Preface.
We express aspects of our culture everyday. Whenever we communicate with others, we demonstrate our beliefs, values, thoughts, feelings and attitudes - all things that have arisen out of the culture (or cultures), in which we have been born or raised.
Culture, Communication and Nursing will help you to:
- Understand the important differences between cultures and how these differences can enhance practical nursing.
- Reflect on your own knowledge and skills about culture and asks you to challenge these using varied, real-life case studies.
- Look after the whole person by developing cultural sensitivity and culture-specific behaviour.
Culture, Communication and Nursing is aimed at diploma and undergraduate nursing students, although it should also be a useful reference source for those working in health-care, undertaking higher degrees and also those studying for qualifications in other health-care-related disciplines.
Philip Burnard is an author of 38 books on communication, counselling, ethics, writing, computing and education. He is currently Professor of Nursing at Cardiff University and lectures internationally.
Paul Gill is a Registered Nurse and has a background in critical care nursing. In 2006 he was awarded the Royal College of Nursing Marjorie Simpson New Researcher award for his PhD research. He is a Fellow of the Royal Anthropological Institute, London and is currently a Senior Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the Faculty of Health, Sport and Science, University of Glamorgan.
Nursing students work in a variety of multicultural settings and therefore it is imperative that they fully understand their own cultural context and that of others; this text encourages nursing students to learn to communicate in a more effective and culturally sensitive way.