Sustaining Cultural Competency In Nursing Research

The CLPNBC Professional Standards relates to culturally safe nursing in many ways, specifically in the fourth professional standard which is labeled Ethical Practice. One of the indicators that is a good representation of this is “Respects and protects client worth, dignity, uniqueness and diversity” (CLPNBC, 2014). This indicator expresses that as LPNs we have the obligation to understand that different patients have a different backgrounds and this shouldn’t influence the proper and respectful care they deserve. A patient’s care (regardless of their personal preferences or ethical choices and backgrounds) should receive healthcare that shows their importance with no kind of segregation represented through a respectful and accepting manner. Another indicator is “Identifies the effect of own values, beliefs and experiences when providing nursing

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.

Perhaps the best first step, and simplest, in response to the lack of cultural competency is for physicians in health care settings to place greater emphasis on cultural sensitivity and awareness trainings to improve treatment for Hispanics. The emphasis on this solution is an important starting point that will help increase the effectiveness of future initiatives in health care. Emphasis on cultural sensitivity and awareness is most efficacious in resolving cultural competency because the solution is both practical and simple. By providing training programs within health care settings that specifically focus on cultural sensitivity and awareness, physicians will learn to respond effectively to their Hispanic patients’ needs that show knowledge of their cultural differences. “One-size-fits all” types of prevention and treatment models cannot be applied to Hispanic patients and expect beneficial outcomes, thus “the challenge is for physicians to move beyond their belief systems and values and expand their world views to validate how others function”

It trains health care providers to overcome cultural barriers like communication and language. Cultural competency has the potential to reduce inequities in access to health care services and improve the health status of cultural communities by reducing healthcare disparities. The goal of cultural competency is to provide health care to the community that is respectful of and responsive to the needs of diverse patients. It helps the health care provider to understand the needs of patients while seeking treatment. It helps to patient-provider to meet on common ground in the diagnosis and treatment plan of the disease.

Historically discrimination against minority groups has been a reoccurring problem in the U.S. In 1857 the U.S. Supreme Court denied citizenship and basic rights to African Americans (Civil rights, 2015). Over time, through many legal and legislative acts African Americans were slowly granted full rights. Today, the issue of unconscious racial bias among doctors is prevalent in America. These physicians tend to demonstrate dominate conversations with African Americans during visits, pay less attention to the patients emotional and social needs and make the patient feel less involved in decision making (medical news today, 2012).

Cultural Competency Simply put, the United States is a diverse country. It is common knowledge that this a country founded upon immigration. Moreover, with the advancements in transportation and the growing trends toward globalization this course is more than likely to continue – barring any radical governmental intervention. That is why cultural competency is so vital, especially when it comes to healthcare. Because the sad fact is, not all ethnic groups receive the same level of care (Kittler, Sucher & Nelms, 2017).

Furthermore, they should be aware of the cultures of the patients their facility is serving. It is crucial to maintain cultural competence for yourself and for

They also need to know the various disease of the different populations they serve. “Cultural competency includes the capacity to identify, understand, and respect the values and beliefs of others.” (Culturally Competent Healthcare Systems,

It also includes thoughts, communication styles, views on roles and responsibilities, ways of interacting and practices. Culture is shaped by multiple influences factors such as race, ethnicity, nationality, language, gender, status, mental and physical abilities, occupations and many more (Thomas, 2002). The increasing diversity of the nations gives an opportunity as well as challenges for the healthcare providers, system and policy makers to generate and deliver culturally competent services. The United State Census had confirmed that the nation’s population had become more diverse that ever before and the trend is accepted to continue over the next century (WHO, 2012). Healthcare system and providers need to reflect and respond to various diverse patients’ perspectives, values, beliefs and behaviours on their health and well being as globally the nations are becoming more ethnic and racial.

The way a person thinks about health, “whether that is our ‘philosophy’, our ‘worldview’, our ‘framework’ influences what we do as individuals in practice,” as well as how we deliver the health service. These elements allow us to think about healthcare in our own culturally acceptable way, this isn’t always an acceptable way of delivering the service to people with views different to our own. Cultural competence is an approach that aids in influencing the service and the education of healthcare professionals. (Taylor, K., & Guerin, P., 2010). Cultural competence is defined as a knowledge and understanding of cultures, histories and contemporary realities and awareness of protocols, combined with the proficiency to engage and work effectively in a cultural context congruent to the expectations of the people of that culture.

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.

The world is a diverse population, with people coming from various ethnic and cultural backgrounds. A person’s views, values, and traditions determine their daily needs and practices. So, healthcare providers face certain challenges and restrictions because a patient’s belief may inhibit professionals from providing the most effective care. Therefore, cultural competence is an important idea for healthcare providers to consider when understanding and respecting patients. Balcazar, Suarez-Balcazar, and Taylor-Ritzler (2009) noted in “Cultural competence:

Cultural competency in nursing can be simply defined as having the necessary knowledge and skills to provide effectively and quality care to patients of a given culture (Comer, Whichello, & Neubrander, 2013). People belonging to a common culture may not behave similarly as the culture would dictate. Therefore, in handling patients of a common culture, a nurse should be keen not to generalize patients since everyone is unique in their preference. Cultural diversity is common in most countries most especially in the United States. The diverse cultures have necessitated care providers to seek further training and to adhere to regulations that protect individuals from different cultural backgrounds, with an aim of providing quality care (Cushman,

In a clinical practice, cultural safety is well defined as a Health Professional’s perception of his or her own personal culture and how these personal cultural values and belief may impact on the provision of care to the person, regardless of race or ethnicity. Cultural safety combines cultural awareness and cultural sensitivity and is reinforced by good communication, recognition of the diversity of views nationally and internationally between ethnic groups. There are four levels in the cultural respect framework, Knowledge and Awareness, Skilled Practice and Behaviour, Strong Customer and Community Relationships and Equity of Outcomes. The cultural respect framework provides the foundation of attainment of changed knowledge and awareness,

As I go to serve this population I have to put into account our different cultures. To be a successful nurse you must learn how to understand others cultures and beliefs. I have been studying and