Korean Nursing Case Study

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While on the job, we may encounter patients who adopt many different cultures, they have different beliefs, needs, and concerns. Therefore, as a nurse we need to build our awareness about preferences of care of the multicultural patient population. Patients with Korean background may have many different insights while receiving western treatments. There are those from North or the South Korea, and they both have significant difference in the way they perceive illness or react to discomfort. Most patients we see are usually those who emigrate from South Korea. Patients with Korean culture may define health and illness in different ways. Therefore, practicing a culturally congruent care and adopting a concept to ensure that it will be achieved …show more content…

Therefore, it is important to ask the patient on his/her preference regarding the primary decision-maker as it may avoid conflict during assumption of care. They are also very family oriented, Shin, K. et al. (2001) described that “because of a strong orientation towards the family, many Koreans are more likely to believe their family or friends’ view of their illness rather than that of the physician” (p.5). Nurses may have to allow some time for decision making as they usually like to discuss with other family member. Most Korean also feel more comfortable receiving care from same sex care taker or health care provider. Staffing may need to be adjusted to allow a more pleasant health care experience.
Traditional healer preferred by the Korean population is called Han Ui Sa (also known as a traditional herbal doctor). These traditional herbal doctors use herbs as a big part of their practice, called Han Yak, they may also prefer to use acupuncture, acupressure, incense, chanting, and cupping. A popular part of the herbs they use is ginseng. Shin, K. et al. (2001) stated …show more content…

For example, ginseng may lower blood glucose or act as a blood thinning agent; therefore, it may not be advisable to take ginseng prior to procedure that may require the patient to fast or invasive procedure due to the risk of bleeding. Koreans also believe in the practice of balance of yin and yang. Food has to be balanced between meat or protein and leafy greens in diet. Rice is also a preferred carbohydrate consumed during each meal. They may also request to eat food that may be against the facility or hospital’s protocol, for example, patient may request uncooked food items or kimchee (which some perceived these as rotten food with foul odor).
Korean women have a culture-bound illness called Hwabyung which loosely translated as “fire illness”. According to Shin, K. et al. (2001) article on Health and Health care of Korean American Elders, Hwabyung happened due to “…failure to keep their emotions from being expressed openly as traditionally required, especially for women” (p. 5). The elderly may also request to attend church services as they believe that prayer is a strong part of healing period. A multidisciplinary action may be needed to ensure that the spiritual needs are also

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