Introduction
The Navajos is a Native American tribe that occupy the southwest of the United States of America since around the 16th century (Dr.Joe, 2014). The Navajo is a people known for their beliefs and ceremonies. They strongly believed in the harmony between nature, supernaturals, and man of which sickness is a major cause of disharmony (Kunitz, 1983). Nursing in the Navajo culture is divided into seven categories: caring, trust, spirituality, respect, connection, holism, and traditions (Lowe, 2001). In a world filled with diverse cultural practices, the Navajo nursing culture greatly affects the health-seeking behaviour of the Navajo people.
In the Navajo culture, the relationship between the nurse and the client is vital. The nurse is non-judgemental, understanding, and is trusted by the client. However, good communication skills still have to be developed between the nurse and the client. In the case study, Mrs Littlejohn had been to the clinic, and it was discovered that she had high glucose levels yet it took her a week to seek medical attention. The lack of her and her family understanding the danger of her illness means the communication between her and the nurse, both at home and the clinic was very poor.
The healers in the Navajo culture used traditional medicine and different ways of dictating a disease. They categorised the disease according to the cause instead of its symptoms. This lead to many people suffering yet they cannot be treated because only few symptoms could be observed. As it is in the case study, Mrs Littlejohn has been suffering from diabetes since her first pregnancy but no step has been taken towards managing and curing her illness. In the hospital, her grandmother sprinkles cornmeal around her bed, performing a ritual that does not lead to her healing yet the life of the mother and the baby is at risk. This is because the symptoms that Mrs Littlejohn had were not known by her people. In modern medicine, improvements have been made in that, the disease can be categorised by both causes and symptoms leading to better health care. The Navajos were also poor observers, and thus there was a very high chance of not detecting a disease. This, however has been improved in modern medicine by the introduction and the use of microscopes and other instruments.
Conclusion
The Navajo culture of nursing has had a great impact on health-seeking behaviour among the Navajo people. The people are prone to seek good medical care leading to long life span. Communication skills have to be improved between the nurse and the client for better understanding.
References
Dr. Joe, J. (2014). Path of life: Navajo health practices.
Kunitz, S. J. (1983). Disease change and the role of medicine: The Navajo Experience. Carlifonia.
Lowe, J. S. (2001). A conceptual framework of nursing in Native American culture. Journal of Nursing scholarship, 279-283.
