The Importance Of Trans-Cultural Nursing

Cultural competency can be described as the ability to interact with different cultures in a positive manner. Many cultural differences can become apparent in a number of situations. According to Fadiman, doctors have a moral duty to save lives even if they don’t agree with the values or beliefs of someone else’s culture (1997). This paper will address the topic of cultural competency, with a concentration on the importance of cultural competency in the medical field. It is hard to imagine how frustrating it may be to come across a patient that resists a professional’s opinion because they have solid beliefs or do not understand what doctors are attempting to convey.

Cultural competency is increasingly important in healthcare today. In America today, we are facing a lot of tension between cultures today. America is a very diverse country with many cultures co-existing and in order to properly care for patients professionals need to be able to understand and tend to their cultural needs. Whether it be a difference in language, understanding that someone is a veteran and how that may affect them psychologically, or any other set of circumstances that surround a specific culture. Having the knowledge and resources that cater to different cultures makes for better experiences across the board and, consequently, makes for more effective healthcare visits.

In other words, to be culturally competent, professionals must provide superior, respectful medical care to all patients. This must start with building an understanding of basic philosophies and value systems of different population groups. This is especially critical in the nursing field where much time is spent providing hands on care with each patient. A nurse must be sensitive to language differences, social cues and personal lifestyle choices

Cultural competence is seen as being able to master a skill-set (Barlow, Reading, & Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network, 2008) rather than analyzing power imbalances, institutional discrimination, colonization and colonial relationships (NAHO, 2006 as cited in Charlotte Loppie’s presentation). “Cultural safety emphasizes relationships of trust in which the patient determines whether the care is ‘safe’” (Barlow, Reading, & Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network, 2008, p. 3). I really like the term “relational care” introduced in the as the Barlow, Reading, and Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network (2008) article as the term “is rooted in the connections within and relationships among Aboriginal people and health care providers” which is grounded in the traditional teachings and values of Indigenous Peoples (p.

As such, cultural competence is an important practice for improve patient and community health and promoting justice for all clients and professional peers. Duly, nursing leaders learn and education cultural integrity as an effective tool in advocating for individual rights. Sources: [1]

Cultural competence is much more than awareness of cultural differences, as it focuses on the capacity of the health system to improve health and wellbeing by integrating the understanding and appreciation of different cultures. To become more culturally competent, a health service or professional or system needs to value diversity, have the capacity for cultural self-assessment, be conscious of the dynamics that ,occur when cultures interact institutionalise cultural knowledge, adapt service delivery so that it reflects an understanding of the diversity between and within Cultures. Equity of Australian healthcare access is important for all Australians and is difficult to achieve when access issues are not addressed. As well as these issues, some patients from a culturally and linguistically diverse background experience discrimination from the system of health care due to their country of origin, cultural background, and religious beliefs. Healthcare professionals need to recognise this potential and be prepared to advocate for their patients when necessary to ensure adequate care.

Cultural competency is vital when working with diverse populations in health care because of all of the different cultures and ethnicities prevalent in our country. America is a true melting pot, and the acculturation which inevitably occurs, is an important aspect of assimilation. Since communication is a key objective in the prognosis of various ailments, the healthcare experience is reliant on today's health professionals to have an adept understanding of a multicultural environment. A regulatory dilemma which is common in today's culture, is the alienation of groups that are not understood by our healthcare system. These patients often resort to self care , which often leads to serious complications and other health issues as a result

Giddens states that culturally competent care means conveying acceptance of the patient’s health beliefs while sharing information, encouraging self- efficiency, and strengthening the patient’s

Cultural competence is vital in the nursing profession, one any given day the nurse is working with patients from multiple different cultures. It is crucial that the nurse give the patient cultural competent cares, which allow the patient to receive the best quality care that he or she needs. Cultural competence is defined as the “awareness and understanding of unique characteristics of a group’s social and cultural attributes, health beliefs, and values, but also encompasses interventions that reflect this awareness” (Cope, 2015, p. 305). It is vital to incorporate the beliefs and specific care of the patient’s culture into the patient’s care plan in order for the person to have the best quality care.

As a healthcare provider you should give your patients the best care possible, and that can only be achieved when you are accommodating to different needs. There is no place for ethnocentrism in today's world, and healthcare

(Universities Australia, 2011). The term cultural competence in health care refers to both the actions of the practitioner and their duty of care for the patient. This means that the care provided must be considered safe by the person receiving the care not the person providing it. (Victorian Government

Cultural competency: Indians Culture competency is defined as one has the knowledge, the abilities and the skill to deliver care congruent with the patient’s cultural beliefs and practices (Purnell, 2013). As a nurse or a health care provider, increasing ones consciousness of culture diversity improves the possibilities for health care practitioners to provide competent care (Purnell, 2013). Nurses and all health care providers should be aware of other cultures to provide the best care that they can for that individual. Developing a relationship with diverse cultural groups involves good interpersonal skills and the application of knowledge and techniques learned from the physical, biological, and social sciences as well as the humanities (Purnell, 2013). I am choosing to select the Indian culture for my first assignment.

Development of a conceptual framework” that cultural competence is difficult to define and measure, but it can be demonstrated by adjusting healthcare practices and interventions in order to

In gaining knowledge of specific groups Campinha-Bacote (1998) and Purnell (1998) state the four stages nurses experience: unconscious incompetence, conscious incompetence, conscious competence and unconscious competence. Being unaware that an individual is lacking in cultural knowledge is referred to as unconscious incompetence. Such healthcare professionals may read articles or attend classes about cultural diversity. They may hence know that culture plays a role in the delivery of care but do not know how to use this knowledge (Campinha-Bacote, 1998). While this student agrees with Narayanasamy (2002) that it is almost impossible to be an expert in all cultures, it is however expected that healthcare professionals make efforts to gain an insight into the cultural backgrounds of patients under their care. !

Culturally Competent Nursing Care: Criticism of a Paper Background In the United States, nurses are caring for an increasingly diverse population. Minority groups, namely Hispanic, black, Asian, American Indian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, constitute one third of the patients seeking cares in the United States. Therefore, it is necessary to diversify the nursing workforce to reflect this underserved population in order to deliver effective quality care and improve satisfaction and health outcomes. So called, the ability to provide culturally competent care is especially important in critical care setting.