30 Jan People of Italian ancestry

N512 Diverse Populations and Health Care

Module 7 Assignment

People of German, Irish, and Italian Heritage

Welcome to Module 7! In this module we will discuss the unique cultural characteristics of people of German, Irish, and Italian heritage. The focus will be on the ethnocultural attributes that fall within the twelve domains of culture identified in the Purnell Model for Cultural Competence.

Time Requirements:

The amount of time required to complete assignments in this module is approximately 17 to 20 hours.

Objectives:

After completing this module, students should be able to:

Examine the family roles and organization of people from these cultures.

Contrast the workforce issues of these cultural groups.

Assess the bio-cultural ecology associated with the peoples of these three cultures.

Explore high-risk behaviors that are characteristic of individuals from these cultures.

Assess the implications of nutritional habits of these cultural groups.

Analyze the unique attitudes towards and practices of these people with respect to childbearing.

Analyze the death rituals and religious beliefs that characterize people from these cultures.

Integrate unique health care practices of these cultural groups into nursing care.

Readings:

Purnell, L., & Paulanka, B. (2013). Transcultural health care: A culturally competent approach (4th ed.). Philadelphia: F. A. Davis. (Chapter 14 and Abstracts).

Chapter 14: People of German Heritage

Abstract: People of Irish Heritage (page 469 of Textbook)

Abstract: People of Italian Heritage (page 471 of Textbook)

Summary:

In this Module we examined the ethnocultural attributes of people from German, Irish, and Italian heritages. Germans are reserved, formal people who appreciate a sense of order in their lives. With nearly one quarter of all Americans claiming German heritage, Germans are the dominant ancestral group in many parts of the U.S. They have a deep respect for education— they are the most skilled and educated workers in the world. Examination of temporal relationships shows a value on punctuality and a sense of “schedule.” In Germany, history, family, and lifelong friendships are highly valued. Because Germany is highly industrialized, Germans suffer from many of the same life-threatening diseases that afflict groups from other highly industrialized countries. Leading causes of death for German Americans follow the patterns of the dominant American society and include heart disease, cancer, cerebrovascular disease, and accidents. German Americans tend to take responsibility for maintaining good health, and conscientiously practice health promotion in terms of physical and dental examinations, immunizations, etc.

The history of the Irish in America has not been harmonious. Early immigrants in America were subjected to religious persecution and economic discrimination. The Irish in America are a diverse group, and health care providers must be careful to avoid generalizations or assumption, such as the Irish being superstitious, heavy drinkers and practical jokers. The Irish in America, with their strong sense of tradition, are typically past oriented. They have an allegiance to the past, their ancestors, and their history. Kinship and sibling loyalty are important to the Irish. Families emphasize independence and self-reliance in children. Boys are allowed to be more aggressive than girls, who are raised to be respectable, responsible, and resilient. The traditional Irish family is nuclear, with parents and children living in the same household. The use of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs are major health problems among the Irish. Alcohol researchers generally agree that individuals’ Irish ancestry puts them at risk for developing drinking problems. Many Irish ignore symptoms and delay seeking medical attention until symptoms interferes with the ability to carry out the activities of daily living. The Irish often handle problems by using denial, which is culturally prescribed.

Although most early Italian immigrants were from the farmlands of Italy, lack of capital for land and equipment limited their ability to continue farming in the United States. The majority became contract laborers in urban areas such as New York, Boston, Baltimore, and Chicago, Philadelphia, St Louis, New Haven, San Francisco, Buffalo, and Rochester. The willingness to share thoughts and feelings among family members is a major distinguishing characteristic of the Italian family. Positive and negative emotions and sentiments are permissible, encouraged, and color their daily lives. Traditional Italian immigrant families recognize the father’s authority as absolute; nothing is purchased and decisions are not made without his approval. The father’s decision may be accepted as law even among his married children. To criticize one’s father is considered as sacrilege. Italian families maintain close relationships. Love and warmth, security, and the expression of emotions are the most common characteristics of an Italian family. Daughters have close ties with both parents, particularly as the parents grow older.

People of Italian ancestry have notable genetic diseases, such as familial Mediterranean fever, Mediterranean-type glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G-6PD)’ and B-thalassemia. The Italian diet, rich in vegetables, pasta, fruit, fish, and cheese, varies according to the region of Italy from which the individual oriented. Most Italian Americans have few barriers to health services. However many, especially among the first generation, may underutilize available resources because they have little faith in medical practitioners.

Complete the following:

German case study

Irish case study