Assignment Task

This task will help you to identify culturally safe practice frameworks when nursing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It aligns with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) registered nurse standards for practice to respect all cultures and experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People. Ensuring a culturally safe and therapeutic relationship is paramount to establish mutual trust and respect. 

Learning Outcomes:

1. Identify current Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and cultural safety frameworks and discuss their implications for practice in nursing and healthcare professions.
2. Explain the impact of historical, social and political processes on the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and demonstrate understanding of the social justice implications and impact on health outcomes.
3. Demonstrate and compare a strengths-based versus a deficit model of nursing practice in relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health care.
4. Identify the diversity of health-related knowledge and practices within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and the impact of these on health-related choices, including traditional medicine.
5. Explain the principles and concepts of cultural safety in clinical practice and outline the impact of power dynamics between health care professional and client on nursing care delivery within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Read the following Clinical Case Scenario and answer all of the following questions:

David is a 50-year-old Elder, Aboriginal man from a remote community in the Northern Territory. This is his first admission to a hospital in his life and he has just been told about his diagnosis of end-stage lung cancer. He has had minimal interaction with health services in the past and English is his third language. Other staff members have commented about his behaviour stating that he is ‘’not talking to anyone” and appears to be very upset.

David has a past medical history of type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and recently started vaping to try and quit his tobacco smoking. He does not drink alcohol, he loves fishing and enjoys spending time outdoors.

You have just received the following handover from the team leader:

This is David, he is 50 years old he just came today. His Oncologist Dr Sarah Matthews has just spoken with him, poor guy has end-stage lung cancer. He is really quiet, but he was nodding his head when we asked him questions. He will need to start chemotherapy and radiation as soon as possible, we are just waiting for the oncology team’s confirmation.

Questions

1) Discuss the communication strategies that would be used to assess David’s clinical and emotional needs.

2) Identify the cultural needs of David and justify if this situation has been culturally safe.

3) From this situation, list (minimum of 3/maximum of 5) recommendations that you as the Nurse would implement to ensure that David’s experience in your Health Care Facility is culturally safe. Consider identifying any supportive services for Aboriginal people admitted to your local healthcare facility.