When a patient refuses to take medication, insists on having a family member feed them or always has a lot of visitors, some nurses may interpret these actions as being noncompliant. However, these types of behaviors could be due to a patient’s cultural beliefs and values. Show
Immigrants value their individuality and cultural identities. To deliver appropriate health care to an increasingly diverse and multicultural population, nurses must be well-versed in the importance of culturally competent care. The need to be culturally competent is crucial in today’s health care landscape. It will continue to be relevant, as the United States Census Bureau reports that an international migrant enters the country every 130 seconds. Health care professionals who don’t know how to provide culturally competent care run the risk of providing insufficient care. Nurse practitioners can learn how to provide culturally competent care by gaining a deeper understanding of the concept and developing skills through an advanced nursing degree or certificate program. What Is Culturally Competent Care?Cultural competence refers to the behaviors and policies of a business, agency or system that allow for consistent, effective work in cross-cultural environments. The concept encompasses a broad spectrum of behaviors associated with the interpersonal communication styles, beliefs, customs, and values of various social, religious, ethnic, and racial groups. To be culturally competent in healthcare, then, individuals must know how to deliver effective, efficient patient care within the context of their patients’ cultural backgrounds. Taking into account the unique attributes of every person, culturally competent care has several key components, which include:
Cultural Competence in Health CareA key pathway to providing culturally competent health care is learning how behaviors are interpreted by people from different cultural backgrounds. Many cultural variations exist among different countries and continents. To care for patients who are culturally different from them, nurse practitioners should consider the following tips:
Cultural competence also relates to diversity and inclusion in health care, which encompasses sexual orientation and gender identity. When caring for patients in the LGBTQ+ community, for example, nurses should learn more about sexual orientation and gender identity, including key definitions, as well as the potential health risks for those patients. They should also use inclusive and gender-neutral language and reflect the patient’s language. For instance, avoid applying labels like “gay” because some members of the LGBTQ+ community do not self-identify with any particular label. When addressing a group of people, it’s also advisable to avoid terms that imply male or female identification like “ladies and gentlemen,” as some people may identify as nonbinary. The Role of Nurses in Health CareNurses apply their knowledge and skills to deliver health care that can improve patient outcomes. Nurses use their judgment to integrate objective data about health and illness with personal observations of their patients to deliver the best care possible. An important part of these judgment calls is approaching care from a cultural competency standpoint. Culturally competent nurses assess patients holistically, taking into account how cultural factors can make a difference in patients’ well-being. Cultural competency enables a high level of trust and rapport between nurse and patient, and this can support and inform care delivery strategies. Ultimately, nurses who apply the principles of cultural competence can help improve patient outcomes. Develop the Skills to Provide Culturally Competent CareCultural competence in health care makes a difference in patient care. Learning how to provide culturally competent care to all patients should be an ongoing process for nurses, enabling them to customize care for each patient based on a broad understanding and sincere appreciation of the rich diversity of humanity. Duquesne University’s online post-master’s certificates in nursing can prepare you to provide consistent, culturally competent care to every patient. Our program can help you cultivate expertise in core areas such as pathophysiology, pharmacology and population-based health promotion, laying a solid foundation to support your nursing career. Learn how we can help strengthen your nursing competence and prepare you to deliver compassionate, focused care to diverse patient populations. Recommended ReadingThe Importance of Diversity in Nursing SANE Nurses: How Nurses Help Victims of Sexual Assault Working with Children in the Foster Care System Sources:American Nurses Association, What Is Nursing? Axios, “More Than 400 U.S. Counties Are Now Minority White” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cultural Competence in Health and Human Services Cleveland Clinic, Office of Diversity and Inclusion Focus, “Practicing Cultural Competence and Cultural Humility in the Care of Diverse Patients” Monster, “Five Tips for Culturally Competent Nursing” StatPearls, “Cultural Competence in the Care of LGBTQ Patients” United Nations, Guidelines for Gender-Inclusive Language in English United States Census Bureau, Quick Facts: United States United States Census Bureau, U.S. and World Population Clock Which nursing action is appropriate when caring for a patient from a culture different from the culture of the majority?Which is the best action for the nurse to take when caring for a patient whose beliefs differ from those held by the majority population? Analyze the patient's beliefs to determine their significance.
What should the nurse do when planning nursing care for a client with different cultural background?To be effective in meeting various ethnic needs, the nurse should:. Treat all clients alike.. Be aware of client's cultural differences.. Act as if he or she is comfortable with the client's behaviour.. Avoid asking questions about the client's cultural background.. Which should the nurse include when caring for a client of a different culture?Which should the nurse include when caring for a client of a different culture? Enforce use of specialty practitioners. Be nonjudgmental in healthcare beliefs. Instruct client to take ordered medications.
Which nursing intervention reflects culturally appropriate care?The nurse can demonstrate professionalism and culturally appropriate care by addressing clients by their last names and introducing himself or herself. He or she should follow-up thoroughly with requests, respect the client's privacy, and ask open-ended rather than direct questions until trust has been established.
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