Pledge,  you  committed  yourself  to  fulfilling  cer- tain  duties,  not  only  to  those  entrusted  to  your care  but  also  to  all  members  of  the  health  care team.  It  is  this  commitment  to  service  and  to human  beings  that  has  traditionally  distinguished the United States Navy Hospital Corps wherever its members have served. INTERPERSONAL  RELATIONS As  a  health  care  provider,  you  must  be  able to identify, understand, master, and use various kinds  of  information  and  scientific  skills.  In  ad- dition to information data and scientific skills, it is also very important that you develop a special kind  of  skill  called  interpersonal  relations.  In  pro- viding total patient care, it is important that you see the individual not only as a biological being but  as  a  thinking,  feeling  person.  Your  commit- ment to this concept is the key to the development of  good  interpersonal  relationships. Simply  stated,  your  interpersonal  relationships are the result of how you regard and respond to people.  Many  elements  influence  the  development of that regard and those responses. In the follow- ing  discussion,  some  of  these  elements  will  be discussed as they apply to your involvement in the military  service  and  your  relationships  with  other health  care  providers  and  the  consumer. CULTURE Because  of  the  cross-cultural  nature  and military  mission  of  the  Navy  Medical  Department, you will frequently encounter members of various cultures.  Culture  may  be  defined  as  a  group  of socially  learned,  shared  standards  (norms)  and behavior  patterns.  Things  such  as  perceptions, values, beliefs, and goals are examples of shared norms;  whereas  health  practices,  eating  habits, and  personal  hygiene  reflect  common  behavior patterns  of  specific  groups  of  people.  An  under- standing of common norms and behavior patters enhances the quality and often quantity of serv- ice  a  provider  is  able  to  make  available.  An  in- dividual’s  cultural  background  has  an  effect  on every area of health care services, ranging from a simple technical procedure to the content and effectiveness   of   health   education   activities. Becoming familiar with the beliefs and practices of different cultural and subcultural groups (the military   community   for   example)   is   not   only enriching  to  the  health  care  provider  but  promotes an understanding and acceptance of the various peoples  in  the  world  community. RACE The  term  race  is  a  classification  assigned  to a  group  of  people  who  share  inherited  physical characteristics. This term becomes a socially sig- nificant reality since people tend to attach great importance  to  assuming  or  designating  a  racial identity. Information identifying racial affiliation can  be  an  asset  to  the  health  care  provider  in assessing the patient’s needs, carrying out direct care activities, and planning and implementing pa- tient  education  programs.  Racial  identification has the potential to create a negative environment in the health care setting when factors such as skin color  differences  motivate  prejudicial  and  segrega- tional behaviors. When this is permitted to occur, an environment that feeds a multitude of social illnesses  and  destructive  behaviors  develops.  In the Navy Medical Department, no expressions or actions  based  on  prejudicial  attitudes  will  be tolerated. It is both a moral and legal responsibility of the health care provider to render services with respect for the life and human dignity of the in- dividual  without  regard  to  race,  creed,  sex, political  views,  or  social  status. RELIGION A  large  majority  of  people  have  some  form of belief system that guides many of their life deci- sions and to which they turn to in times of distress. A  person’s  religious  beliefs  frequently  help  give meaning  to  suffering  and  illness;  they  also  may be  helpful  in  the  acceptance  of  future  incapacities or  death. Close  contact  with  illness  and  death  can  in- crease  our  awareness  of  our  own  mortality  and that  of  our  patients.  For  some  there  will  be heightened religious involvement and for others a  sense  of  frustration  or  loneliness.  It  is  impor- tant for health care personnel to be aware of this to  meet  the  needs  of  patients,  co-workers,  and even  ourselves.  We  must  accept  in  a  nonjudgmen- tal  way  the  religious  or  nonreligious  beliefs  of others  as  valid  for  them,  even  if  we  personally disagree with such beliefs. Although we may of- fer  religious  support  when  asked  and  should always  provide  chaplain  referrals  when  requested or indicated, it is not ethical for us to abuse our patients  by  forcing  our  beliefs  (or  nonbeliefs) upon  them.  We  must  respect  their  freedom  of 5-3