Cultural Diversity in the Nursing Profession - Essay Example

There has been in fact a rising practice of what has been termed as "medical tourism" because of the rise in number of people getting more health conscious, seeking alternative ways of improving one's health. The American Nursing Association (ANA) recognizes the vital role knowledge on cultural diversity plays at all levels of nursing practice. When dealing with patients, nurses involve themselves in an interaction of 3 cultural systems: (1) the culture of the nurse; (2) the culture of the client; (3) the culture of the setting.

This happens because the nursing profession has gone global, involving health care delivery by people of varied nationality and various cultures (ANA, 1991). With the growing global population composed of multi-cultural oriented people, an ethnocentric approach to nursing practice is no longer advisable. Ethnocentrism is the belief that one's own culture is superior to all others. This belief is common to all cultural groups; all groups regard their own culture as not only the best but also the correct, moral, and only way of life (ANA, 1991).

Thus, it is important for nurses to understand various cultures as part of their training. . e 2008 Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life survey on religious landscape of the United States shows that religious affiliation of the people in the US "are very diverse and fluid" (Pew Forum, 2008). This has significant implication on the nursing profession with religion as a vital component of culture. There are various religious groups around the world. Of particular interest is the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) in the Philippines which comprise almost 3% of the total population (NSO, 1990).

Founded in 1914 by Felix Manalo, INC considers itself the "true" Filipino church (Harper, 2001). Among the doctrines it preaches to its members are: (a) there is only one God (as opposed to Christianity's Trinitarian view) and that Jesus Christ is a created being; (b) salvation is dependent on church membership, baptism and works; (c) its founder, Felix Manalo, is regarded as the "angel from the East" (mentioned in Revelation 7) sent by God bringing the final message. From only four ministers and 12 disciples when it was founded on the eve of the World War I, membership grew steadily and by the 1950s, the church was recruiting from 10,000 to 15,000 converts a year.

The 1990 Census of Population and Housing places the number of Iglesia members at 1.4 million, three times more than its membership in 1970 (Mangahas, 2002). The INC has members among overseas Filipinos as well and says it has churches in 66 countries, including 39 in the United States, 23 in Asia, 15 in Europe, 11 in Australia and Oceania, and eight in Africa (Mangahas and Olarte, 2002). Over the years, the INC's business interests have grown. A search at the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission showed that INC leaders are incorporators and board directors in companies engaged in education; medical care,