Running head: REFLECTIVE JOURNAL 1
MSN 564 Reflective Journal Paper
United States University
MSN 564
Cultural and Spiritual Care Across the Lifespan
, REFLECTIVE JOURNAL 2
Summary: The course, Culture and Spiritual Care across the Lifespan, is essential to a student
embarking on the journey to become a provider in healthcare. The course included topics of
culture, spirituality, vulnerable populations; religious diversity and complementary, alternative
and integrative health practices. This journal will reflect how this course content is and will
continue to be beneficial to future nurses seeking the advanced role.
Reflective Journal
There are quite a number of ways which has been explored by research on how culture,
spirituality and alternative practice influences healthcare. We as providers have the charge and
responsibility to actively promote cultural competence and diversity within the healthcare
system. As an individual from a distinctive culture, one can recognize the impact that nurses
have in upholding culture, spirituality and alternative care as essential standards in not only
nursing but in holistic healthcare. In my Cultural and Spiritual practice presentation, the focus
and research was on North American Hispanics. The North American Hispanics are one of the
largest cultural groups in the United States today (CDC, 2015). A North American Hispanic
treatment of Diabetes, for example, will differ based on the inherent culture. In this example,
with the North American Hispanics, in the course of medical treatment, it will involve not just
the patient, but everyone in the family. By including the whole family, in respect to their cultural
practices, it provides a much greater reach for a successful treatment verses a standardized
individualized treatment plan.
This course also highlighted the plight of the vulnerable transgender nation. Although it
is a new genre that has been introduced into healthcare, it is a highly marginalized one. Although
many providers like myself are not privileged to have associates that are within the transgender
MSN 564 Reflective Journal Paper
United States University
MSN 564
Cultural and Spiritual Care Across the Lifespan
, REFLECTIVE JOURNAL 2
Summary: The course, Culture and Spiritual Care across the Lifespan, is essential to a student
embarking on the journey to become a provider in healthcare. The course included topics of
culture, spirituality, vulnerable populations; religious diversity and complementary, alternative
and integrative health practices. This journal will reflect how this course content is and will
continue to be beneficial to future nurses seeking the advanced role.
Reflective Journal
There are quite a number of ways which has been explored by research on how culture,
spirituality and alternative practice influences healthcare. We as providers have the charge and
responsibility to actively promote cultural competence and diversity within the healthcare
system. As an individual from a distinctive culture, one can recognize the impact that nurses
have in upholding culture, spirituality and alternative care as essential standards in not only
nursing but in holistic healthcare. In my Cultural and Spiritual practice presentation, the focus
and research was on North American Hispanics. The North American Hispanics are one of the
largest cultural groups in the United States today (CDC, 2015). A North American Hispanic
treatment of Diabetes, for example, will differ based on the inherent culture. In this example,
with the North American Hispanics, in the course of medical treatment, it will involve not just
the patient, but everyone in the family. By including the whole family, in respect to their cultural
practices, it provides a much greater reach for a successful treatment verses a standardized
individualized treatment plan.
This course also highlighted the plight of the vulnerable transgender nation. Although it
is a new genre that has been introduced into healthcare, it is a highly marginalized one. Although
many providers like myself are not privileged to have associates that are within the transgender
