As nurses, we serve a diverse population with many different values,
As nurses, we serve a diverse population with many different values,
Many health care organizations are now calling for multicultural competent health care professionals. It is suggested cultural competence is as an ethical obligation and cross -cultural skills should be placed on a level of parity with other specialized skills (2009). Within each culture exists an incredible diversity of groups and subgroups (2011). Achieving a base of knowledge for each group creates a challenge.…
Using the Self-Assessment of Perceived Level of Cultural Competence (SAPLCC) questionnaire, frequencies, means, and ANOVAS were determined to create medical and pharmacy student profiles of cultural competence. Profiles were used to identify needs for training and underscore critical issues that should be given priority in the curriculum. Significant differences were found in several domains of cultural competence (knowledge, skills, attitudes, and abilities); they may be explained by differences in the implementation of a pilot curriculum, the racial composition of students in both programs, and other characteristics. However, in the awareness domain, the main differences found may be explained only by respondents' attitudes and their personal…
The importance of cultural competency when working with diverse populations in health care can affect a patients or clients overall health in a positive or negative way and also affect reputation of the doctor and the staff. In the article Cultural Competency: Values, Traditions and Effective Practices, by Carol Brannon she defines Cultural competency, as “the ability to understand and respond effectively to the cultural and linguistic needs of patients or clients”(p.2). Brannon also explains how the US is more of a “salad bowl” comparing it’s diversity to the unique ingredients of a salad rather than a “melting pot”, which demonstrates how people have different needs and requisite different kinds of treatment according to their cultures, beliefs, values, habits, etc. Being able to communicate in a positive manner and connect with patients can lead to healthier lifestyles, promote more positive attitudes towards diversity and develop policies that can benefit everyone.…
Cultural competence can be defined as being aware of our world views, developing skills for communication and interaction across cultures by using positive attitudes towards cultural differences by gaining knowledge of different cultural practices and world views. Cultural competence is about the actions to build understanding between people, to be respectful and open to differences. Understanding cultural competence is developing positive attitudes towards cultural differences.…
Assessing one’s position on the cultural competence continuum is a task of ironic proportions. Because it is a fluid process, it is difficult to precisely place one’s self on a continuum that is not quite linear. It seems that as soon as one feels that they are becoming competent and embodying the characteristics of one who completely respects and accepts another culture, there is yet another dimension of this competence that requires assessment and adaptation. For the time being and that being said, I would probably feel most confident by placing myself on the cultural pre-competence (but closely approaching competence) level of awareness.…
As America’s cultural landscape changes, now more than ever, standards of cultural competency and sensitivity are necessary skills for everyone. Cultural competency is the practice of using knowledge of different cultures to enhance interactions with whomever you meet, or in the healthcare field, to treat effectively a multitude of cultures with appropriate sensitivity. This skill will ensure that you give the best quality care to the many cultures making up the United States and in so doing perpetuate and maintain our nation’s commitment to having equal rights and access for all who live here.…
I think Cultural Competency is the ability to be aware of one’s own culture, its values and ethics and the cultures of others. By being aware of the ideologies and viewpoints of different people, ones ability to make decisions drastically improves by being aware of differences in people and their lifestyles. Not everyone in the world is created equally, we are raised through various experiences and various people, while our ancestors used these differences to segregate and gain superiority over individuals of inferior upbringing, a more contemporary individual needs to be culturally aware in order to fit into todays world. Cultural Competence means a lot to me personally, going through an International Baccalaureate curriculum in my high school,…
Today 's management in the workforce is composed of all types of people verses thirty years ago when white males held a majority of upper-management positions in companies. These positions are now held by a mixture of ethnic back grounds and women who hold just as many if not more management positions then men. Just by looking at the changes in management demographics shows how important it is for people to understand cultural competency in the workplace. Dr. Roosevelt Thomas Jr. (1999) stated, "Diversity is the collective mixture of whomever we have in our workforce characterized by their differences and similarities" (p.11). Managers and supervisors must understand the characteristics of a diversity mature individual; they also need to be able to articulate the differences between affirmative action, managing diversity, understanding and valuing diversity to build skills that transforms awareness into productive and supportive workplace behaviors.…
A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR M E N TA L H E A LT H S E RV I C E P R O V I D E R S…
I approached a social worker who works with a charity organization. The organization helps children from different cultural background who due to poverty they cannot afford basic needs such as place to stay, education and food. The organization comes to their aid by providing the basic necessities to them. The organization tends to deal with children from diverse cultural backgrounds. As a result a number of challenges are faced when dealing with the children. In order to understand how the organization is able to deal with cultural diversity I approached a social worker who works with the organization.…
I enjoyed you post this week. Your choices in assessment strategies appeal to me. I have posted in previous discussion regarding "service learning", which can also be useful in teaching cultural competencies (Kohlbry, 2016). The idea of being able to provide a "real world" learning experience can undoubtedly foster competencies in these areas ( Sullivan, 2016). I still remember my "service learning" encounters 20 plus years later! Additionally, the use of audio recording also brings back memories from nursing school, which I recall being one of my favorite and helpful learning experience as well. It not only helped me with my class project, but also allowed me to get to know a "boy" I had just started dating. He volunteered to be my patient…
Cultural competency and cultural sensitivity are key ingredients to working effectively with diverse counseling clientele. Having the ability to work with diverse populations is important because counselors need to be able to meet the needs of those they serve. Despite this, there is a gap in research about how to develop these essential skills. Multicultural counseling is a required course in many counselor graduate training programs. Even though programs can simulate the real world in the classroom and educational settings, authentic experiential learning constructs an opportunity that equips students for professional settings and careers. Additionally, it is important to expand on multiculturalism beyond one class. This study examines the…
Cultural competency enhances services provision; however, it is very unlikely to be able to offer a one size fits all approach given the ever-changing demographics and acculturation of groups. Drawbacks in cultural competency trainings is falling into over-generalization (Healey et.al., 2017, p.22.) While studies and models move towards guidelines that enhances and entrenches cultural competency models through multifaceted platforms, there is a fine line in falling to the same tribulations we are trying to elude. As our competency increases towards understanding other cultures our ethics should be the compass that supports our work, otherwise “when we don’t know what to do, we do more of what we know” (Bolman & Deal, 2013, p. 7). As a result,…
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. For instance, before my grandmother had passed, my family wanted to do a traditional prayer ceremony for her in the hospital. It is where we have a monk in the same room, doing the a Buddhist Prayer for peace. Indeed, with the help of the staff members on her floor, the nurses understood why my family request a monk to do a Buddhist Prayer and to have our whole family attends the prayer. In fact, the nurses would only allow two people to see my grandmother at a time, but in this case, the nurses allowed to have my whole family and the monk to be with our grandmother. Of course, without the help of Josepha Campinha-Bacote theory, Buddhist Prayer in the hospital would not have been allowed. According to the article, “The Process of Cultural Competence in the Delivery of Healthcare Services: A Model of Care,” Josepha Campinha-Bacote mentioned a model that “requires health care providers to see themselves as becoming culturally competent rather than already being culturally competent. This process involves the integration of cultural awareness, cultural knowledge, cultural skill, cultural encounters, and cultural desire” ( Josepha Campinha-Bacote, 2010).…
Cultural competence as the process of recognizing one own lifestyle, feeling, opinion and surrounding without making it impact others with a different background. Cultural competence is also acknowledging, understanding, embracing, respecting cultural differences and assimilate nursing care accordantly to each client’s culture. (Deborah L. Flowers).…