ANS. Advances in nursing science
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Significant declines in indicators of civic behavior identify Americans' decreased connectedness to each other, their communities, and participation in the process of government and solving problems together. Universities across the United States are working to revitalize college students' involvement in the processes of democracy. This move to increase students' engagement in their communities and nation has implications for nursing education and the profession. Nurse educators are advised to use experiential learning to teach skills of civic engagement, political advocacy, and policymaking and to be role models and mentors to foster the growth of nurse citizens in the profession.
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Review
Of goldfish tanks and moonlight tricks: can cultural competency ameliorate health disparities?
Within nursing, cultural competency is seen as an important mechanism for reducing racial and ethnic health disparities; however, after years of attempted implementation of "cultural competence," minimal evidence exists demonstrating a relationship between culturally competent interventions and improved health outcomes or reduced disparities. We examine how cultural competency as an intervention for tackling health disparities is undertheorized and misguided, and deflects attention and efforts needed to address broader social determinants of health. We provide a historical overview of cultural competency, critiques of the concept, and recommendations for moving beyond cultural competency as a means of diminishing health disparities.
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Researchers who use a critical perspective analyze the historical, political, economic, social, cultural, and gender factors that impact on the people being studied. Research is regarded as a way to promote social justice. The purpose of this article is to describe why and how a critical perspective was used in designing and implementing research with Aymara women healers in the high plains of Peru. The study is used to demonstrate the usefulness of a critical perspective in global health nursing research to promote social justice.
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Each year millions of Americans are hospitalized suddenly with critical injuries or life-threatening medical emergencies. The families of these patients begin a roller coaster ride characterized by terrified waiting and lack of control. ⋯ Phenomenologic interviews with 6 family members identified 10 theme clusters that describe the experience. Specific implications for the nursing care of these families are discussed.
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Considerable evidence suggests that neocolonialism, in the form of economic globalization as it has evolved since the 1980s, contributes significantly to the poverty and immense global burden of disease experienced by peoples of the developing world, as well as to escalating environmental degradation of alarming proportions. Nursing's fundamental responsibilities to promote health, prevent disease, and alleviate suffering call for the expression of caring for humanity and environment through political activism at local, national, and international levels to bring about reforms of the current global economic order.