Embracing Culture

We have been in Thailand for a little over a week now and what a life changing experience it has been so far. The impact that culture has on health and wellness is no surprise to us as nurses. The link between culture and individual/community health has been embedded into our brains since the very beginning of our careers as nurses; and when I say the beginning of our careers, I’m talking first day of school, NURSING 101 and every year after. Throughout our careers as nurses, we are taught about ethnocentrism and how to be culturally sensitive while trying to see the world through our patient’s unique cultural lens. We are asked about cultural sensitivity in every interview we have for any nursing position and take great pride when we are able to help our patients embrace their cultural norms while supporting their health and healing. So, as we packed our bags and headed to Thailand for our clinical immersion experience, being culturally sensitive and adapting to the way of life and health care in a new land was not something we were necessarily worried about.  Instead, we were busy wondering if we really should have packed that second bottle of SPF 50, and how many packets of Kleenex was appropriate amount to bring for a 2 week stay in Thailand (getting stuck without toilet paper is not a situation you want to find yourself in), and if we really should have gotten that Japanese encephalitis vaccine that was recommended, but not required.

Well, as well versed in cultural sensitivity as we thought we were, I think that letting go of our own cultural norms and embracing those of a completely foreign culture was a lot more challenging than any of us would have anticipated. Now, that is not to say that every part of this foreign culture was difficult to embrace. We quickly became accustomed to taking our shoes off before we entered any building, bowing as a greeting instead of waving, and taking a second to just slowdown from our fast-paced lives in America. The people of Thailand value time differently than we do. I think for most of us, this was a very refreshing change of pace.

Over the last week I have witnessed amazing things in Thailand health care. I have witnessed nursing students completely immerse themselves in their community health clinical experience. Packing up their lives for 6 weeks to live in their assigned village, making daily home visits on their bikes, and tailoring nursing interventions to improve the overall health of the community. I have witnessed community health clinic filled up with 150 patients all by 8:30 AM. Some patients waiting as long as 3 hours to speak with the doctor. People sat outside in the 90-degree heat, others sat on the floor, and a handful arrived early enough to snag a chair inside near a fan. All without one complaint. Yet, the most profound moment for me was witnessing the interdisciplinary care rounds that occurred IN the patient’s home and lasted over an hour and half. When it comes to their patients, it is evident just how much these health care providers truly care for their patients. From the nurses and physicians to the community health volunteers, these people go above and beyond for their patients.

This experience has given me an opportunity to reflect on our own health care system in America, resource utilization and what cultural sensitivity really means to me. As challenging as self-reflection can be, it is an opportunity that I will be forever grateful for! 

Below from top to bottom: Our clinic with 150 patients on community health day, our nursing students working on their community map, and finally the interdisciplinary, in home care rounds.