Cross-Cultural Caring: A Handbook for Health Professionals in Western Canada

John Jacono is an assistant professor of Nursing at Laurentian
University.

The socioeconomic status, ethnic background, and aspirations of recent
arrivals seeking permanent domicile in Canada have changed dramatically
in the last two decades. Attempts to provide them with the same level of
care afforded to other citizens have sometimes resulted in bewilderment,
anger, and frustration for both the provider and the recipient. The
Canadian perception of optimal care (particularly in the provision of
health care) is very often at variance with the social, economic,
religious, and ethnic background of recent immigrants and refugees.
Fortunately, one need no longer follow one’s instincts and hope for
the best.

This precious resource book, compiled from the knowledge and experience
of several health-care providers—many of whom are relatively recent
immigrants themselves—provides excellent insights into this problem
area. In particular, it stimulates the care provider to think beyond the
immediate (diagnosing and treating the problem at hand) and invites the
care giver to integrate the recipient into the health-care process.

This book should be at the disposal of all those who deal with recent
immigrants to Canada, but is of course of particular benefit to those
who must provide them with health care. The implication of regionality
in the title may be misleading, and might in fact be counterproductive
to the intent behind this work. It would be of great benefit to all
Canadians if, in future editions, representatives from other cultures
not dealt with here were invited to contribute to this seminal work.