Discussion 6.1: Healthcare Leadership Inclusivity – Group Two
Chimamanda Adichie describes the consequences that come with having one singular view of a population in her TED talk. My initial impression was how accurately Adichie explains how a single story can shape our perception of a group of people. She fosters the conversation by comparing her experiences with a single story to those around her. The modern world is trying to be more progressive, but we are still far from perfect. I also immediately was imagining how her interaction with her college roommate would be today. I wonder what would be similar and different with our country’s push to be more inclusive and understanding of others.
I do not feel like I have been put in the one-story category. I am a white American female and feel there are many “stories” out there about someone like me. There is an older stereotype I may have received growing up about being a ‘dumb blonde.’ I never felt this stereotype could be accurately applied because there was so much content that did not push that one specific narrative. This is exactly the benefit of having many stories. The one negative story has little effect when you as an individual have so much representation in the larger world. I have had one story about other populations. One-story narratives are a product of immediate surroundings and larger media. I attended a high school with many people like my cultural, racial, and economic background. I went to college in Chicago and met an incredibly diverse group of people. I learned about new cultures socially and cultural competency in my nursing courses. Cultural competency requires understanding how culture impacts a patient and how to incorporate culture into their care (Kula et al., 2021). Video translators are a helpful resource if there is a non-English speaking patient. Many translators at my clinic will offer tips and insight on what is common in their culture.
Discussion 6.1: Healthcare Leadership Inclusivity – Group Two
The healthcare team should not make any ‘one story’ assumptions regarding the care of a culturally diverse patient. These assumptions can be inaccurate, and offensive, and lead to a lack of trust between patient and provider. Direct communication and care coordination are methods to increase the quality of patient care (Rosen et al., 2018). I recommend having a healthcare team made up of diverse individuals that can contribute relevant personal experiences. I have had a Spanish-speaking patient where the Spanish-speaking medical assistant was able to make small talk with the patient while I retrieved the interpreter. I have also had a patient from China, she spoke English but wanted to see the physician I worked for because she is also Chinese. The cultural bond made her feel more comfortable seeking care. These small moments help facilitate a “many story” environment.
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References
Kula, Y., Cohen, O., Clempert, N., Grinstein-Cohen, O., & Slobodin, O. (2021, September 29). Educating nursing students for cultural competence in emergencies: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Nursing, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-021-00704-1
Links to an external site.
Rosen, M. A., DiazGranados, D., Dietz, A. S., Benishek, L. E., Thompson, D., Pronovost, P. J., & Weaver, S. J. (2018, May). Teamwork in healthcare: Key discoveries enabling safer, high-quality care. American Psychologist, 73(4), 433–450. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000298
Hi Skylar,
I can relate to your stereotyping of ‘dumb blondes’ I have felt that way before. Unfortunately, I feel that single stories create stereotyping. The problem is that stereotyping is an incomplete story, making the one story the only story. For example, we both know there is so much more to individuals who are blondes. As leaders, it is vital to pay attention to different points of view and approaches, which can create perspectives that would have otherwise been overlooked (Radel et al., 2018). In healthcare, how can we improve our tunnel vision of individuals? For example, for patients who have chronic pain, we all have heard a nurse say, “oh, that patient is narc seeking.” This single-story stigma has become a toxic norm for the new generation, which is sad. Diversity makes us who we are, and I believe we can learn so much from one another if people would take their blinders off. Thanks for sharing.
Reference
Randel, A. E., Galvin, B. M., Shore, L. M., Ehrhart, K. H., Chung, B. G., Dean, M. A., & Kendharnath, U. (2018). Inclusive leadership: Realizing positive outcomes through belongingness and being valued for uniqueness. Human Resources Management Review, 28, 190-203. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrmr.2017.07.002
Hi Skylar,
Yes, Chimamanda describes the consequences of having a single view of a certain population. There are chances that the singular view of a population may provide inaccurate information. Adichie fosters the discussion by comparing her experiences with a single story (Leetsch, 2020). In the modern progressive world there are various interactions. Therefore, people meet different cultures and sources of information. As a result, some narratives may become irrelevant and untrue after acquiring more reliable information. ‘Dumb blonde’ story have sounded different after white students engaging with black students. These interactions allow these white students to write different stories from what they were taught when growing. Adichie in her talk illustrates that people can write their stories without manipulation (Mutai, 2020). One story’ assumptions among healthcare providers is dangerous. And like you pointed out, these assumptions may be wrong and offensive, and lead to a lack of trust between patient and provider. In your career as a nurse, have you ever had a wrong assumption of a patient? If so, would you have handled it different knowing that a single story of a person can be dangerous? Cultural competency is not just about learning…but it’s more about putting what we’ve learned into practice. As Healthcare professionals, we should also rely on accurate information obtained from detailed engagement.
References
Leetsch, J. (2020). Translocations of Desire: Urban Topographies of Love in Chimamanda Adichie’s Americanah. In Geographies of Affect in Contemporary Literature and Visual Culture (pp. 181-198). Brill. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004442559_012
Links to an external site.
Mutai, E. K. (2020). Rethinking Globalisation through Afropolitanism in Chimamanda Adichie’s Americanah. Editon Consortium Journal of Literature and Linguistic Studies, 2(1), 143-150. DOI: https://doi.org/10.51317/ecjlls.v2i1.139