Everyday nursing in Australia involves looking after people from diverse and non-English speaking backgrounds. Nurses themselves come from a range of multicultural backgrounds.
It is important for nurses to realise that culture is about so much more than language or country of origin. Respecting and working together with another culture and beliefs should be an integral part of clinical practice. The speciality of palliative care focuses on valuing self-determination and respect for individual cultural values and belief systems.
However, the views of patients from some cultural backgrounds may be conflicted with palliative care principles, such as the transition from care with a curative intent. [1]
“Through culture, we define who we are, to what extent we conform to shared values, and how we contribute to community and society”. [2]