Culturally competent care has fast become a byword in health care with the increasing global migration of populations including healthcare providers topmost of whom are nurses. There abound a number of definitions of culture and competence in current literature provided by multiple disciplines and organizations. Lehman, Fenza and Smith (n.d.) refers to culture as “the learned patterns of behavior and range of beliefs” which includes ways of life, norms and values, social institutions attributed to a specific group and passed on through generations . While competence implies capacity to function and translates into behavior appropriate application of knowledge and attitudes. Giger and companions (as cited in Loftin, Hartin, Branson, & Reyes,
“Health is influenced by culture and beliefs” (NRS-429V, 2011, p. 1). In order for the nurse to properly care for the patient, she must know and understand the patient’s culture. “Cultural care is a comprehensive model that includes the assessment of a client’s cultural needs, beliefs, and health care practices” (NRS-429V, 2011, p. 1). It is not enough to just know where the patient lives or where he came from. The nurse must embrace the concept of cultural competence and cultural awareness. This requires not only the awareness of the cultural beliefs and values of their patients, but also
Cultural competence is the ability to interact well with people of different cultural backgrounds (Rundle, 2002). It provides the best ways of meeting the needs of diverse patient population which is always on the increase, as well as ways of effectively advocating for them. This means that cultural competence has the benefit of enabling nurses to deliver services that respect and effectively respond to health beliefs and practice needs of diverse patients. Through the process of globalization, nurses are moving to places of nursing shortage to offer their knowledge and skills beyond their home
Cultural competence in nursing is imperative for effective patient care. A nurse must know his or her own values and beliefs as well as knowing about a patient cultural practices in relation to healthcare. Cultural competence is defined by some as: “the learned, shared and transmitted values, beliefs, norms and lifeways of a particular group that guides their thinking, decisions and actions.” Also it is noted that an important change to this definition is “the recognition of the dynamic,
The United States is a diverse accumulation of cultural backgrounds which can often set the stage for feelings of confusion, anger, mistrust, and a host of other emotions when dissimilar cultures disagree. Cultural competence in nursing can help eliminate these barriers and provide a platform for nursing to follow in the quest to understand a patient's culture and background. When a nurse takes the time to learn about a given culture prior to providing care, it conveys she respects the patient's right to their beliefs, customs, and culture. It does not necessarily mean the nurse agrees with their practices but
Cultural competence in nursing can provide a platform for nursing to understand a patient's culture and background. When a nurse takes the time to learn about a given culture
What is Cultural Competence and why is it important to Health and Wellbeing Cultural competences are behaviours, values, attitudes and policies that a body of professionals should encompass in order to effectively work with other cultures (Bureau of Primary Health Care). Culture includes shared values, beliefs, religion, norms and customs. Competence is the ability to function as an individual and part of a team (Office of Minority Health). According to Mayhew cultural competence also involves how someone’s culture can influences the way they perceive health, illness and recovery (Mayhew 2016). The Georgetown University emphasized that cultural competence is being able to provide health services that meet social, cultural and language needs
Level II Cultural Competence Exploration Currently, it is important for nurses to be able to interact with individuals from all areas of the globe. Travel makes it easier for individuals from distinct cultures to experience and immerse themselves in vast areas of the world, which can create challenges for these individuals when it comes to seeking medical treatment outside their home country. For nurses to provide adequate patient centered care, they must understand the basic components of the patient’s culture, thus creating the surge in national requirements for cultural competence in healthcare organizations. The most effective way for one to understand another culture is to first understand their own culture. Cultural Assessment Cultural
"A set of congruent behaviors, attitudes and policies that come together as a system, agency or among professionals and enable that system, agency or those professionals to work effectively in cross-cultural situations. The word "culture" is used because it implies the integrated pattern of human thoughts, communications, actions, customs, beliefs, values and institutions of a racial, ethnic, religious or social group. The word competence is used because it implies having a capacity to function effectively."
Cultural competence is a set of behaviors, attitudes, and policies, among professionals enabling them to work competently in cross cultural events. It is the ability to provide care to patients with diverse beliefs, behaviors, and values. This also involves meeting a patient 's cultural, language, and social needs. Health care related disparities, changing demographics and globalization make it important that nurses are culturally competent in the workplace. To do this, nurses must be able to engage in cultural self assessment, value diversity, and be culturally aware. Nurses must also understand and effectively respond to cultural differences. As a culturally competent nurse, you will have a more effective interaction with patients and families.
| |Example 3: Disabilities are viewed differently in different cultures. In some cultures, people with disabilities are hidden, in |
Cultural differences occur in a lot of situations in the nursing practice. In order to give the best care, I must apply the five constructs toward cultural competence. These five constructs include: awareness, knowledge, encounters, skills, and desire. In order to develop cultural competence, I must be aware that individuals just like myself have their own beliefs, values and practices of their own culture. During a cultural encounter, I must be aware that not only is the patient’s culture present but as well as my own, and as well as the culture of our environment. Similar to an Ombudsman, I must be aware of my patients cultural needs and preferences in order to advocate for my patients. In order to be aware of patient’s cultures, I must
Obtaining cultural information and utilizing this knowledge ensures cultural competence. In order for nurses to be culturally proficient they must understand both their and their patients' perception of the world, while preventing stereotyping. Nurses portray cultural competence in nursing practice as a continual development working towards achieving a set goal of effectively working with a range of culturally diverse people while still displaying awareness of cultural diversity during care. Effective nursing practice and cultural competence consists of nurses constantly aiming to provide care within the cultural limitations of their patients. An understanding of cultural diversity is vital in all aspects of nursing as it is critical that nurses understand and recognize differences within an individual and not contribute to stereotyping.
In nursing school, nurses are trained to value and understand individuals from many different cultures, maintaining the rights and dignity of each individual. In today’s society, nurses are responsible for interacting and caring for individuals from cultures of every kind. That being said, cultural competence in nursing is essential to providing quality care to patients. Cultural competence is “the ability to provide effective care for clients who come from different cultures”
I realize the importance for nurses and other healthcare professionals be educated on the different global cultures, as America is a global melting pot. Smith and Parker (2015) state the culture care theory “desires to discover unknown or little-known knowledge about cultures and their core values, beliefs, and needs” (p. 304). Within this theory fifteen orientational definitions have been defined. These definitions allow the nurse to break down the patient and nurse interaction regarding each person’s cultural differences, diversities, environment, worldview, and social structure. However, a disconnect often occurs between the professional (etic) and generic (emic) care definition. The professional care definition takes what we learned throughout our years of education to improve a patient’s health. The generic care definition uses the patient’s indigenous, traditional, and local folk knowledge to provide adequate assistance and support for healing. With the appropriate combination of the orientational definitions, patient’s will receive optimal
As America continues to grow and expand with diverse cultures immigrating into the United States it is important to start to incorporate culture specific care into nursing. Cultural competence is when attitudes, knowledge, and skills to diverse cultures are adequate to provide quality care to the individual (AACN, 2008). Cultural sensitivity is when verbal and nonverbal ques are used to reflect sensitivity and appreciation for one another’s culture (AACN, 2008). Per American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2008), there are five key competencies when providing care which include applying the knowledge of social and cultural factors, using relevant evidence based practices, promote safety and quality