Standards of Culturally Competent Care
Standards of Culturally Competent Care
Nur 531
April 8, 2013
Annette Marget
Standards of Culturally Competent Care In 1963 Bob Dylan wrote the words "For the times they are a-changing" as part of the lyrics for a popular song of his. During the current millennium the term "global economy" has become a key word throughout the world of finance. These two well-known expressions are precursors to today 's major issue of "cultural competency". The world has changed and is global in many aspects. The influx of immigrants into the United States has continued and differences in cultures have become more and more prominent. Throughout the United States especially cultural differences have had and will continue to have a major impact on the healthcare industry. According to The Office of Minority Health “Cultural competency is one of the main ingredients in closing the disparities gap in health care. It’s the way patients and doctors can come together and talk about health concerns without cultural differences hindering the conversation, but enhancing it. Quite simply, health care services that are respectful of and responsive to the health beliefs, practices and cultural and linguistic needs of diverse patients can help bring about positive health outcomes”. (The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2013) Culture and language may influence: health, healing, and wellness belief systems; how illness, disease, and their causes are perceived; both by the patient/consumer and the behaviors of patients/consumers who are seeking health care and their attitudes toward health care providers; as well as the delivery of services by the provider who looks at the world through his or her own limited set of values, which can compromise access for patients from other cultures. My personal career track has been working in and supervising and directing in Emergency Departments where the proportional rate of foreign language, especially Spanish speaking, patients
Nur 531
April 8, 2013
Annette Marget
Standards of Culturally Competent Care In 1963 Bob Dylan wrote the words "For the times they are a-changing" as part of the lyrics for a popular song of his. During the current millennium the term "global economy" has become a key word throughout the world of finance. These two well-known expressions are precursors to today 's major issue of "cultural competency". The world has changed and is global in many aspects. The influx of immigrants into the United States has continued and differences in cultures have become more and more prominent. Throughout the United States especially cultural differences have had and will continue to have a major impact on the healthcare industry. According to The Office of Minority Health “Cultural competency is one of the main ingredients in closing the disparities gap in health care. It’s the way patients and doctors can come together and talk about health concerns without cultural differences hindering the conversation, but enhancing it. Quite simply, health care services that are respectful of and responsive to the health beliefs, practices and cultural and linguistic needs of diverse patients can help bring about positive health outcomes”. (The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2013) Culture and language may influence: health, healing, and wellness belief systems; how illness, disease, and their causes are perceived; both by the patient/consumer and the behaviors of patients/consumers who are seeking health care and their attitudes toward health care providers; as well as the delivery of services by the provider who looks at the world through his or her own limited set of values, which can compromise access for patients from other cultures. My personal career track has been working in and supervising and directing in Emergency Departments where the proportional rate of foreign language, especially Spanish speaking, patients
References: Pacquiao, D. (2004). President 's Message: CLAS Standards. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 15(338), 1-2. George, J. (2011). Nursing Theories. The Base for Professional Nursing Practice (6th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education. The Joint Commission: Division of Standards and Survey Methods. (2013, Spring). Office of Minority Health National Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) Standards Cross walked to Joint Commission Standards.. Retrieved from http://jointcommission.org The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2013, Spring). Think Cultural Health. Retrieved from http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/templates