Heritage Assessment In Nursing

Koenig and Gate-Williams (1995) defined heritage as the degree at which a person reflects his or her own culture as he/she refers to the lifestyle. Heritage assessment is one of the diverse section of nursing assessments that community nurses must conduct in their profession. The formulation of heritage assessment allows the community nurses to gather relevant information relating to a patient’s culture which defines his/her beliefs. The information gathered during the assessment include the patient’s beliefs, family beliefs, religious and ethnic communities. Heritage assessment of a family is conducted to help in enhancing health protection, health restoration and health maintenance of a patient as per the cultural requirements. The importance

In the three cultures, men make decisions and give authorities on matters relating to health. Health practitioners are reliable in prescriptions and provision of treatment to the patients. Hispanic culture has been noted to create fear and concern among the healthcare providers on their approaches to patients’ treatment as they don’t believe in medical treatment or disclosing their health issues to the practitioners. Most traditional cultures value the power of spirits and gods in healing and dealing with pandemics. Health maintenance, promotion and restoration impacts are affected by cultural practices, the social-economic status of the patient and the family as well, health perception, environment, religious belief practices and support ("Heritage assessment of health maintenance, health protection, and health restoration among Hispanics, Mexican-Americans and Indians," 2016). The traditions upheld the value of family members in decision making regarding health practices. Health decisions are made as per the family members’

Different cultures depict healthcare approach disparities. The approach toward healthcare provision should therefore suit the specific culture in which it is practiced. Family and relatives of a patient have a major role to play in medical decision-making. This requires the practitioner to thoroughly assess the patient’s culture and beliefs for a clear understanding of the family roles in healthcare provision. Heritage assessment tool depends on evaluation, maintenance, protection and restoration of family cultural behaviors involved in healthcare services provision. Health practitioners can enhance connections and recommendations through acceptance and application of cultural beliefs of a patient. This encourages patient’s healing and well-being in relation to individual mental, physical, spiritual and cultural beliefs. Healthcare providers can therefore design an appropriate and attainable healthcare plan for the