Cultural Competence In Nursing Practice

Understanding what culture is and how it affects the nursing practice is essential to ensure the best possible and appropriate care is given. All cultures are different, and what may be acceptable for one could be an insult to another. Potter and Perry (2017) define culture as being “associated with norms, values, and traditions passed down through generations” (p. 102). However, this is not the only definition since there are many different views on what culture entails. Because of the vastness of cultural groups, it is important that nurses have cultural competence, a good grasp of the patient’s specific cultural needs and beliefs, and the ability to alter their day-to-day routine to achieve

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,

Nurses need to be culturally competent to understand what different cultures believe about health and how they value health (Maurer & Smith, 2013). By being culturally competent, a nurse is able to use the appropriate communication (verbal and non-verbal) related to the person’s culture. The appropriate communication will led to improved outcomes. Knowing a patient’s culture can increase the nurse’s knowledge to medical conditions and disorders that are related to a certain culture. Overall, if nurses are able to understand their patient’s culture, they are able to protect and advocate for their

Cultural competence is defined as possessing the skills and knowledge necessary to appreciate, respect, and work with individuals from different cultures. It is a concept that requires self-awareness, awareness and understanding of cultural differences, and the ability to adapt to clinical skills and practices as needed

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

Culture is a multifaceted characters of a diverse sets of people that have a common ground on values, languages, emotions and identity. It is a symbolic communication perpetuated in a much larger society that influence by means of conditioning and imitation from one generation to the next. Knowledge of cultural diversity is crucial at all levels of nursing practice. It require nurses to be challenge on a multilevel amplitude of social character and commitment. It is empirical that the nurse consider specific cultural factors impacting on each individual patients and be able to recognize its differences. The impact of cultural diversity on each patient start with the nurse as a co-provider and influence on the perceptions, interpretations and behaviors of a particular specific cultural group. Nurses need to understand the validity of how culture minded patients understand life process, health, illness, death, and dying. Through collaboration and scientific evidence of multicultural society can bring about a culturally-relevant and responsive services.

As the United States becomes more and more culturally diverse one cannot help but be exposed to various cultures and worldviews. America has long been called the melting pot, and that term has never been truer than it is today. According to Green and Reinckens (2013) the U.S. Census Bureau estimates that by the year 2041 the U.S. population will be a majority minority. In other words, less than half of the population will be non-Hispanic, single race Caucasian. This growing diversity makes cultural competence in healthcare a necessary requirement for effective

the undeniably assorted, multicultural population in the United States is putting forth new difficulties in the arrangement of cultural care by nurses in general. An immediate relationship exists between a patients way of life and their well being; of the numerous factors known to impact health beliefs and practices, culture is a standout amongst the most compelling. In the event that the arrangement of the most ideal care to all patients is the objective, nurses must have aptitude and ability in the conveyance of culturally proper and cultivation equipped nursing care. Each nurse must play a dynamic part in getting a data base whereupon to build up a social competency. The capacity to convey nursing care that will permit powerful communications

Patient centered care is a core component of nursing practice. Understanding and practicing cultural competence is a central element of delivering patient centered care. One approach to understanding other cultures is by utilizing the Purnell Model for Cultural Competence. According to Larry Purnell (2002), cultural competence is defined as “the adaptation of care in a manner that is consistent with the culture of the client and is…a conscious process and nonlinear” (p. 193). In the model, culture is divided into 12 different domains: overview/heritage, communication, family roles and organization, workforce issues, biocultural ecology, high-risk behaviors, nutrition, pregnancy and childbearing practices, death rituals, spirituality, health care practices, and health care practitioner (Purnell, 2002). This model is an excellent framework for assessing and interpreting the cultural complexities of each patient so the best individualized care can be provided. I have used this model and each of its domains in an interview with my friend, Surbhi Patel, in an attempt to further understand her culture.

Cultural competency is extremely indispensable in nursing practice so that nurses can provide optimal care for patients from diverse cultural backgrounds. Therefore, insufficient knowledge and skills of cultural competency has continued to increase racial and ethnic inequalities in healthcare services especially for minority groups (Dunagan et al. 2013; Long, 2012). As Nurses interact with clients they provide care, education and advocacy at any point in need. Cultural awareness provides the bases for nurses to develop of interest to continue and advance in knowledge and skills to deliver cultural competent care (Calvillo, 2009). To complete the critical analysis of the integrative review on cultural competency in new nursing graduates,

Nursing is a very diverse and rewarding career. In the healthcare profession nurses are trained to give competent care to all persons regardless of race, age, and cultural belief. The term competent means having the ability, skill and knowledge to accomplish a task in a successful way (Hicks 2012). The increasing multicultural population in the United States of America introduces a challenge to nurses on providing cultural competent care to patients. This requires nurses to observe cultural differences in healthcare values and beliefs. Culturally competent nursing care helps the patient and families to have a positive outcome with healthcare experience. The American Nurses Association (ANA) states “nurses should practice with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity, worth and unique attributes of every person” (Winland-Brown, Lachman & O’Connor Swanson 2015). The thesis of this paper is to discuss the cultural competent of nurses giving effective patient- centered care in the Hispanic culture.

Being able to provide culturally competent care is a lifelong skill that improves a human life (Leininger, 1988). Learning about cultural difference as well as talking to the patient in order to learn more about his or her believe in practice may help provide cultural care. Caring for different cultures give the nurse a chance to learn about that patient’s cultures and values. The nursing care provider must provide trust, advocacy and privacy to the patient. Promoting health, wellness, preventing illness, and assisting in the healing and recovery process is the end result for every culturally sensitive nurse (Leininger, 2000).

Diversity based on ethnic background, religion, race, and language is rising each day. Due to globalization multiculturalism is increasing. The healthcare providers are responsible for practicing according to the different culture. Since nurses are the main advocates for their patient they should provide maximum holistic and culturally competent care to their clients. Nurses should take of the patients as the patients want to be treated. In order to provide best quality of care, nurses should be educated in cultural competence. Adapting to different cultural beliefs and practices requires flexibility and a respect for others view points. According to the textbook, cultural competence is having “the attitude, knowledge, and skills necessary for providing quality care to diverse population.” Cultural competent nurses have the ability to work effectively across cultures. The main aim of the nurses is to provide patient-centered care with an emphasis on the patients’ specific needs that are formed by their culture.

Thus, nurses need to find ways to gain and gather more information’s about each individual patient’s to be able to develop a cultural competent care. Today each individual has the right to be valued for their unique cultural beliefs and as a healthcare provider they need to acknowledge and understand cultural diversity. Healthcare organization and providers that understand their patients’ cultural beliefs and values will be able to integrate well their patients’ and provide cultural competent care. In order to be able to achieve cultural competent care, healthcare providers need to have cultural knowledge. The write believes that it may not be possible to know all the diverse cultural beliefs and values but by gaining the knowledge it can assist the healthcare providers to become culturally competent to nurse diverse cultural people. Finally the writer feels that being a nurse for the past twenty seven years she herself did not knew anything pertaining to cultural competency. However today she is so thankful to her lecturer who had shared with her a cultural competency ethical decision making model that is ideally been applied for the writer’s patient’s Encik A. The writer had obtained knowledge which she would be able to share and used for her critically

Working as a nurse in my earlier years, I have experienced obstacles that have affected the care that I had provided to many of my patients . I vividly remember a nurse-client encounter I had about eight years ago. In this situation I regret to say that I did not provide care rendered from a cultural perspective. In retrospect, I realized the importance of the cultural aspect of the patient and how it impacts the care provided.