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Abstract
Having an infant admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) can be a frightening experience for parents. However, it can be even more frightening for them when they are from a different culture and speak a different language than the health care team. Hence, a nurse needs to be culturally competent in order to provide proper care to a multicultural society.
The purpose of this article is to describe how NICU nurses can communicate with one such culture, the Chinese American, the largest Asian group in the United States. A transcultural nursing model will be described to use as a guide to help the nurse. The culture, Chinese Americans, will be described to help nurses provide culturally competent care. Research studies will be presented so the reader can develop an understanding of how parents of Chinese descent perceive the care they receive. Interventions and recommendations will be presented on how to enhance communication between the nurses and this cultural group.
Keywords: parenting; communication; Giger and Davidhizar Transcultural Model; Chinese Americans
T HE BIRTH OF AN INFANT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A JOYOUS event, but this all changes when the infant requires admission to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The joy the parents experience on the birth of their child turns into stress and anxiety about their child's future.1 Once the initial shock wears off, parents have many questions about their child and need information that is accurate and understandable.2 Often, it is the nurse they turn to for expla- nations and updates on their child.3 Hence, how the nurse communicates with the family is critical to establishing a thera- peutic relationship between the nurse and parents.2
Communication becomes complicated when the nurse and parents speak a different language and are from a different culture. The nurse not only has to find an accurate method of communication but also has to do so in a culturally competent manner so that trust and rapport can be established.4 With changing population demographics in the United States, nurses are likely to find this situation occurring with greater frequency. Culturally competent care is defined as provid- ing care to a patient that fits that particular patient's beliefs, culture, and health practices.5 To accomplish this, the nurse...