Culturally competent nursing staff
Hong Kong Baptist University
School of Communication
What training is necessary for health care providers to become effective intercultural communicators?
Since we have lived in a globalized world we need to be aware of the cultural diversity in the worldviews of other people. This is especially true in the health care. People from different cultures hold their own special beliefs about health care, illness and even about death. The ignorance of different cultural orientations of various groups in society may cause many misunderstandings between the health care providers, patients and their families. The health care organizations should try hard to provide their patients effective and respectful care that is compatible with their cultural health care beliefs (Like, 2011: 196-206). My essay is focused on those skills that are absolutely necessary for the health care providers to be able to work and communicate with the patients from different cultural backgrounds. First of all the term of cultural competence is explained. Another part of the essay deals with various health care beliefs and the third part focuses on the communication itself.
Cultural competence
Cultural competence is now important for the health care policy makers, providers, educators etc. because of the need to improve a quality of patient service and also to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in the health care (Betancourt, et al., 2005: 499-505). Nursing staff that is culturally competent has got the ability to understand cultural differences. They are “sensitive to issues related to culture, race, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation. Furthermore, culturally competent nurses have achieved efficacy in communication skills, cultural assessments, and knowledge acquisition related to health practices of different cultures” (Maier-Lorentz, 2008: 38). Being informed about different cultural perspectives of the patients is
School of Communication
What training is necessary for health care providers to become effective intercultural communicators?
Since we have lived in a globalized world we need to be aware of the cultural diversity in the worldviews of other people. This is especially true in the health care. People from different cultures hold their own special beliefs about health care, illness and even about death. The ignorance of different cultural orientations of various groups in society may cause many misunderstandings between the health care providers, patients and their families. The health care organizations should try hard to provide their patients effective and respectful care that is compatible with their cultural health care beliefs (Like, 2011: 196-206). My essay is focused on those skills that are absolutely necessary for the health care providers to be able to work and communicate with the patients from different cultural backgrounds. First of all the term of cultural competence is explained. Another part of the essay deals with various health care beliefs and the third part focuses on the communication itself.
Cultural competence
Cultural competence is now important for the health care policy makers, providers, educators etc. because of the need to improve a quality of patient service and also to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in the health care (Betancourt, et al., 2005: 499-505). Nursing staff that is culturally competent has got the ability to understand cultural differences. They are “sensitive to issues related to culture, race, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation. Furthermore, culturally competent nurses have achieved efficacy in communication skills, cultural assessments, and knowledge acquisition related to health practices of different cultures” (Maier-Lorentz, 2008: 38). Being informed about different cultural perspectives of the patients is