According to the Southern California Association of Governments’ census data that compares growth from 2000 to 2010, the Hispanic population is now the largest ethnic group (45.
25 percent) in Southern California, followed by Whites (33.39 percent), Asians (14.82 percent), and African Americans (6.53 percent).
I selected this specific population because it is the fastest growing minority group in our society. It is important for the nurse in any setting to understand the individual’s view of illness which is different from the nurse (McEwen &Wills, 5th Edition 2014).Summary of ArticleThere is much diversity from the Hispanic population. Origins come from a variety of countries such as Mexico, Puerto Rico, Columbia, El Salvador and Dominican Republic. It is always important that the nurse should remember that how one defines culture and their cultural experience/background is unique to specific groups. One should remember that the Hispanic population values family and their religious practices. They have their own special holidays to celebrate and cuisines that they like to cook.
To be able to provide care, the nurse should ask and try to get to know the person’s culture and the ways they do things. One of the values that is significant to the Hispanic population is a close-knit family. They consider the eldest male as the head of the family. The children are shown to be respectful of their elders. Majority of them practice the Catholic faith. Hispanic women are less likely to smoke. They believe that it is unladylike. Hispanics always gather for holidays, birthdays, baptisms, graduations, first communions and weddings.
They take the opportunity to celebrate life. These are the times that they gather with all the families, relatives and friends. Dancing and eating are a part of their culture. Hispanic people tend to communicate with their hands and shows a lot of emotion. Facial expressions are very animated. This often is misinterpreted as too much by non-Hispanics. On the other one, one not born in the United States, tend to avoid direct eye contact with authority figures.
When talking to them, they may nod affirmatively but does not always mean that they are agreeing. During conversations, they stay silent when they do not understand. They feel embarrass to ask questions. Even though they speak English, they are more comfortable with an interpreter. Hispanics are modest and private people. With personal issues, they want to use same gender interpreter. For their eating habits, breakfast is a light meal, lunch is considered as the largest meal.
After lunch, a nap is taken. Dinner is served in the later evening. Any meal is considered as a family gathering. It is the time that they see each other to have conversations. The Hispanics put more value in relationships and family rather than work. For them, their family support system includes the extended family which includes the uncles, aunts, cousins, grandparents, and godparents.
They rely on these people not only on crisis situations but daily life. Geographically, the entire family live near each other. When planning the care for this group, the nurse should consider their values, beliefs, attitudes, traditions, style of communication and how they want to learn, food and feeding habits and relationships.
