This concise, easy-to-read book tackles the potentially awkward subject of culture in a direct, non-intimidating style. It prepares all health professionals in any clinical setting to conduct thorough assessments of individual from culturally specific population groups, making it especially valuable in today's team-oriented healthcare environment. The book is suitable for healthcare workers in all fields, particularly nurses who interact with the patients 24 hours a day, every day of the week.

Based on the Purnell Model for Cultural Competence, it explores 26 different cultures and the issues that healthcare professionals need to be sensitive to. For each group, the book includes an overview of heritage, communication styles, family roles and organization, workforce issues, biocultural ecology, high-risk health behaviors, nutrition, pregnancy and child bearing, death rituals, spirituality, healthcare practices, and the views of healthcare providers. It also discusses the variant characteristics of culture that determine the diversity of values, beliefs, and practices in an individual's cultural heritage in order to help prevent stereotyping. These characteristics include age, generation, nationality, race, color, gender, religion, educational status, socioeconomic status, occupation, military status, political beliefs, urban versus rural residence, enclave identity, marital status, parental status, physical characteristics, sexual orientation, gender issues, health literacy, and reasons for migration. Each chapter offers specific instructions, guidelines, tips, intervention strategies, and approaches specific to a particular cultural population.

Preface.-Introduction.-Transcultural Diversity and Health Care.-The Purnell Model for Cultural Competence.-Barriers to Culturally Competent health Care.-People of African American Heritage.-People of American Indian/Alaskan Native Heritage.-The Amish.-People of Appalachian Heritage.-People of Arab Heritage.-People of Brasilian Heritage.-People of Chinese Heritage.-People of Cuban Heritage.-People of European American Heritage.-People of Filipino Heritage.-People of German Heritage.-People of Guatemalan Heritage.-People of Haitian Heritage.-People of Hindu Heritage.-People of Hmong Heritage.-People of Iranian Heritage.-People of Japanese Heritage.-People of Jewish Heritage.-People of Irish Heritage.-People of Korean Heritage.-People of Mexican Heritage.-People of Polish Heritage.-People of Puerto Rican Heritage.-People of Russian Heritage.-People of Somali Heritage.-People of Turkish Heritage.-People of Vietnamese Heritage.-Glossary.