NUR505- REPLY DISCUSSION

The significance of family and kinship for the Perez family is very high. The Perez value their family more than anything else in their life. All their activities, dreams, goals, and aspirations are related to the family. It is no wonder why because family is one of the most important elements in Mexican society (Safa et al., 2020). Family relationships are very close. One’s family tends to have a major influence on the individual, providing a sense of identity, community and support. There is a general expectation placed upon Mexicans to be loyal and committed to their family by putting the interests of the family above their own. In Mexican culture, families are typically large, and Mexicans are very conscious of their responsibilities to immediate family members and extended family such as cousins and even close friends (Safa et al., 2020). This can be seen in the Perez as they are a classical Mexican family.

The importance of religion and God for the Perez family is crucial. They believe that God is the source of all good things in their lives. They are confident that their big and happy family is from God. They also believe that good health, ability to give birth to children, or ability to cope with health issues are from God as well. This is very similar to other Mexicans who are very religious and tend to seek guidance and support from above order to have good life and be blessed (Babalola et al., 2021). It is important to consider this aspect of being religious when discussing selected interventions for patients with Mexican cultural background.

The two stereotypes about Mexican Americans that were dispelled in this case with the Perez family are related to the attitude to education in this family and trust to modern medicine. The Perez value education and they managed to give good education to their children, including daughters. One of children in the family acquired an education of a nurse and uses its benefits for the wellbeing of the family, supporting the loved ones by advice and empowering them. So, it can be concluded that the Perez as the family are ready to be open to modern social norms resulting in the beneficence for the family members (Safa et al., 2020).

Mrs. Perez is not only mother in this big family, but she is also the provider of spiritual, physical, and emotional care for the family. She plays an important role of supporter for all team members, including her husband. Besides, Mrs. Perez had a role of her husband’s supporter in providing for the family – not like most Mexican women she had a job to help gain funds for the family. When Mr. Perez will have his surgery Mrs. Perez and one of the daughters in the family, who is a nurse by her occupation, will provide care for Mr. Perez and support him during the period of rehabilitation. It can be seen here that close-knit family relations provide Mexicans with a network of security and support, particularly in times of need (Babalola et al., 2021).

References

Babalola, O. M., Garcia, T. J., Sefcik, E. F., & Peck, J. L. (2021). Improving diabetes education in Mexican American older adults. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 1043659621994664. https://doi.org/10.1177/1043659621994664

Safa, M. D., White, R., & Knight, G. P. (2020). Family contextual influences on bicultural competence development among US Mexican-origin youths. Developmental Psychology, 56(8), 1596. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0001022