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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Blanca Angelica Gonzalez, BA, RN and Eileen Bush. School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1 University Place, Rensselear, NY 12144, 5183563293, nurseangelica@hotmail.com

Public health nurses have a professional responsibility to help eliminate minority health disparities as a step toward ensuring that everyone, regardless of race or ethnicity, enjoys the basic human right to health. One strategy to address these disparities is collaborating with public health researchers from other disciplines conducting studies in Latino communities. Their ability to practice from a multicultural perspective, knowledge, community involvement, and skills to pursue multiple strategies for intervention place public health nurses in an optimal position to provide a critical bridge between researchers and Latino study participants. This presentation describes the successful application of nursing preparedness to provide a culturally appropriate response to a quandary that can arise while conducting research with Latinos. Consistent with cultural prescriptions, Latino participants in a study evaluating a stress management group program for caregivers arrived to the research site accompanied by kin and friends, who waited throughout, for assistance and support. To show respect for these traditions, arrangements were made to accommodate the 10-15 companions each session. A public health nurse working with the researcher promptly designed and implemented structured culturally relevant health education activities for these unexpected companions. These include monitoring and recording vital signs followed by appropriate referrals when needed. Interactive mini-workshops on topics such as hypertension, heart disease, nutrition, and diabetes, and healthcare focused on issues related to Latino culture and barriers to healthcare. Time was allotted at the conclusion of each workshop to play dominoes, a favored game in Latin America. Although these activities were optional, participation rate was 100%. The public health nurse was able to 1) contribute to study participant retention, 2) seize the unique opportunity to provide health education to a group of Latino community members who otherwise would have been difficulty to reach and assemble, 3) develop an exploratory model that could be refined and tested for effectiveness. Information is presented within the context of relevant literature. References are provided. This example illustrates how public health nurses practicing from a multicultural perspective can contribute to the elimination of health disparities, and thus promote the human rights to health and health care.

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