The Importance Of Cultural Competence In Nursing
The importance of cultural competence.
Cultural values define roles and human interactions within families and communities and with others. Culture determines values and behaviors, but other factors within a culture influence behavior patterns as well. Cultural competence is the ability to provide effective care for patients who come from different cultures. It requires sensitivity and effective communication in nursing, both verbally and non-verbally.
Cultural competence and respect for others becomes especially important for the nursing practice because nurses are patient advocates. The nurse cannot deliver effective, patient-centered care when the patient’s health beliefs, practices, and values are in direct conflict with medical and nursing guidelines.
Knowledge about cultures and …show more content…
• How the cultural background of the nurse influences the way in which care is delivered.
Barriers to cultural sensitivity in the nursing profession can include stereotyping, discrimination, racism, and prejudice. There are situations in which we may portray a lack of sensitivity without realizing it or intending to offend someone else.
So when becoming a culturally competent nurse, remember:
• KNOWLEDGE: Acquire a knowledge base of cultures in your service area, especially in relation to healthcare practices and beliefs.
• ATTITUDE: Avoid making stereotypical assumptions about your patients' culture; become aware of your own biases and prejudices.
• SKILLS: Learn new communication skills to simplify language for any patient, regardless of primary language.
While I was an RN in Saudi Arabia, the female nurses were not allowed to do catheterization procedure on male patients and vice versa. They were very sensitive about their culture and the care plan was carefully tailored not to offend them culturally in anyway.
References
American Nurses Association. (n.d.). Retrieved October 12, 2015, from
Cultural values define roles and human interactions within families and communities and with others. Culture determines values and behaviors, but other factors within a culture influence behavior patterns as well. Cultural competence is the ability to provide effective care for patients who come from different cultures. It requires sensitivity and effective communication in nursing, both verbally and non-verbally.
Cultural competence and respect for others becomes especially important for the nursing practice because nurses are patient advocates. The nurse cannot deliver effective, patient-centered care when the patient’s health beliefs, practices, and values are in direct conflict with medical and nursing guidelines.
Knowledge about cultures and …show more content…
• How the cultural background of the nurse influences the way in which care is delivered.
Barriers to cultural sensitivity in the nursing profession can include stereotyping, discrimination, racism, and prejudice. There are situations in which we may portray a lack of sensitivity without realizing it or intending to offend someone else.
So when becoming a culturally competent nurse, remember:
• KNOWLEDGE: Acquire a knowledge base of cultures in your service area, especially in relation to healthcare practices and beliefs.
• ATTITUDE: Avoid making stereotypical assumptions about your patients' culture; become aware of your own biases and prejudices.
• SKILLS: Learn new communication skills to simplify language for any patient, regardless of primary language.
While I was an RN in Saudi Arabia, the female nurses were not allowed to do catheterization procedure on male patients and vice versa. They were very sensitive about their culture and the care plan was carefully tailored not to offend them culturally in anyway.
References
American Nurses Association. (n.d.). Retrieved October 12, 2015, from