The relationship between a person who takes care work jobs and her patients is very important. While it can be very rewarding, it is an emotional relationship unlike any other. It is a relationship based on basic humanity and mutual respect. The work a care provider does is often very personal, so building a good relationship with a client is essential.
If a person takes care jobs with patients that come from another culture, it can be a mutual learning experience, or a disaster, depending on how the care worker approaches the situation. Disastrous results often occur when a care worker belittles a persons cultural preferences or approaches the situation with pre-conceived notions about their culture.
Care givers need to be open to learning about new cultures. Developing a plan for care incorporating the best practices of both the patient and the care-givers culture will most likely bring the best results.
Communication is the key to a successful working relationship in all fields, but especially in health care. A care givers own behavior can cause difficulties when misunderstood by a client. A care givers levels of experience will usually determine how comfortable they are in a situation where cultural differences occur Once a care giver gains experience, they learn that all patients have something to teach them. A care giver may learn how to cook ethnic foods, be exposed to new types of music, or even learn how to wear new types of clothing.