Providing culturally safe and sensitive care is an important component of patient-centered care. It is care that meets the social and cultural needs of diverse patient populations. Show
An essential first step before learning about other cultures is an awareness of one’s own beliefs, biases, values and cultural practices. This self-understanding and reflection will support you in creating a practice environment that is sensitive and adaptive to patients' cultural differences.[1] Part of our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion is to strengthen nurse’s awareness and competence of culturally safe and sensitive care. This includes integrating accountabilities that incorporates the Ontario Human Rights Code and recommendations in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report into our entry-level competencies and nursing practice standards and guidelines. The journey to understanding diversity, equity and inclusion to support culturally safe and sensitive care, is one of learning and unlearning. We encourage nurses to reflect on where they are at in their journey, identifying learning needs and take steps to support their learning or unlearning to make long-term changes. What’s next on our journeyCNO is currently working to modernize its practice standards to reflect the evolving health care needs of patients. Part of this work is to ensure modern standards reflect the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion. There will be opportunities for input in the development of culturally safe and sensitive care accountabilities. Here are some resources that can help in this journey of learning and unlearning. CNO will continue to add to this collection as additional resources become available. Other resources
[1] Brooks, L. A., Manias, E., & Bloomer, M. J. (2018, October 12). Culturally sensitive communication in healthcare: A concept analysis. Collegian. Retrieved March 14, 2022, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1322769617303153 Page last reviewed March 30, 2022Cultural respect is vital to reduce health disparities and improve access to high-quality healthcare that is responsive to patients’ needs, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Nurses must respond to changing patient
demographics to provide culturally sensitive care. This need is strikingly evident in critical care units. “As an emergency room nurse in a small rural hospital, I was present when an elderly Native American man was brought to the emergency room by his wife, sons, and daughters,” Deborah Flowers says in
Critical Care Nurse. “He had a history of 2 previous myocardial infarctions, and his current clinical findings suggested he was having another. During the patient’s assessment, he calmly informed the emergency room staff and physician that, other than coming to the hospital, he was following the ‘old ways’ of
dying. He had ‘made peace with God and was ready to die’ and ‘wanted his family with him.’” “The emergency room physician ordered intravenous fluids, a dopamine infusion, a Foley catheter, and transfer to the intensive care unit of a regional hospital 3 hours away. The patient died 2 weeks and 2 code blues later, and was intubated and receiving mechanical ventilation for most of that time. No family members were present when he died except for his wife. The rest of his family members were
unable to afford the cost of traveling to a healthcare facility that far from home. This man’s cultural values and preferences in relation to dying were disregarded.” In contrast, promoting culturally competent nursing care helps nurses function effectively with other professionals and understand the needs of groups accessing health information and healthcare. Examining Culturally Competent Nursing CareDefinitionsCultural competence can be defined as “developing an awareness of one’s own existence, sensations, thoughts, and environment without letting it have an undue influence on those from other backgrounds; demonstrating knowledge and understanding of the client’s culture; accepting and respecting cultural differences; adapting care to be congruent with the client’s culture,” according to Larry Purnell in his book Transcultural Health Care: A Culturally Competent Approach (1998). Another definition states that cultural competence “describes how to best meet the needs of an increasingly diverse patient population and how to effectively advocate for them,” says Barbara L. Nichols, former CEO of the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools, in NSNA Imprint. Explanations of culturally competent nursing care focus on recognizing a patient’s individual needs, including language, customs, beliefs and perspectives. Cultural sensitivity is foundational to all nurses. “The nurse practices with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity, worth, and unique attributes of every person,” states the American Nurses Association’s Code of Ethics for Nurses. RelevanceMore than one-third (37 percent) of the U.S. population consists of individuals from ethnic and racial minority groups, and by 2043, minority groups will become the majority, according to research from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. However, nurses from minority backgrounds represent 19 percent of the registered nursing (RN) workforce. Men account for 9.6 percent of the RN workforce. There is a “challenge presented by the health care needs of a growing number of diverse racial and ethnic communities and linguistic groups, each with its own cultural traits and health challenges,” the NIH says. Nurses and other healthcare providers must account for these differences through cultural respect to support positive health outcomes and provide accuracy in medical research. “The development of cultural competence in the nursing practice first requires us to have an awareness of the fact that many belief systems exist,” says Lanette Anderson, executive director of the West Virginia State Board of Examiners for Licensed Practical Nurses. “The beliefs that others have about medical care in this country, and sometimes their aversion to it, may be difficult for us to understand. We must remember that we don’t need to understand these beliefs completely, but we do need to respect them.” Developing Cultural Competence in NursingFramework for Delivering Culturally Competent Nursing ServicesCampinha-Bacote and Munoz (2001) proposed a five-component model for developing cultural competence in The Case Manager.
TipsNurses should explain healthcare jargon to patients whose native language is not English, according to Monster contributing writer Megan Malugani. A breast cancer awareness program for U.S. immigrants demonstrated that women were too shy to say they didn’t understand certain terms. Some assumed that Medicare and Medicaid were forms of cancer. Many people from other cultures seek herbal remedies from traditional healers — and they can be harmful or interact poorly with Western medicine. Nurses should ask patients about any alternative approaches to healing they are using. Another example of cultural sensitivity involves nurses understanding the roles of men and women in the patient’s society. “In some cultures, the oldest male is the decision-maker for the rest of the family, even with regards to treatment decisions,” Anderson says. The most important way for nurses to achieve cultural competency and promote respect, according to Anderson, is to gain the patient’s trust for a stronger nurse-patient relationship. This requires sensitivity and effective verbal and non-verbal communication. PitfallsNurses should never make assumptions or judgments about other individuals or their beliefs. Instead, nurses can ask questions about cultural practices in a professional and thoughtful manner. Common pitfalls to avoid involve stereotyping and labeling patients, according to Flowers.
Responding to Higher Standards in NursingMore hospitals across the United States now require that nurses have a bachelor’s degree. Rising educational standards are emphasized to increase the quality of care that patients receive. Alvernia University’s online RN to BSN Completion Program is designed to improve patient outcomes and help nurses meet each patient’s needs, including those unique to the patient’s cultural background. The degree program takes place in a convenient online learning environment that accommodates students’ work and personal schedules. The RN to BSN Completion Program includes a class — NUR 318 Developing Cultural Competency & Global Awareness — which offers students “an opportunity to begin their lifelong journey to becoming culturally engaged.” This course has existed at Alvernia University for more than a decade, and demonstrates how Alvernia is leading the way in preparing culturally competent nurses. 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.
What are important considerations for a nurse when teaching a patient of a different culture?Examples of Cultural Competence in Nursing
A few key traits include: Speaking in terms that are easy for the patient to follow and understand. Not judging or disregarding a patient's belief and religious background, but encouraging them to do what works best for them. Empathizing with the patient at all times.
How do you care for a culturally diverse patient?To care for patients who are culturally different from them, family nurse practitioners should consider the following tips:. Don't make assumptions. ... . Explain every detail. ... . Ask about alternative approaches to healing. ... . Withhold judgments. ... . Accommodate and educate.. What are the steps for the nurse to develop culturally competent care?Here are 5 ways to help you provide culturally competent nursing care.. Perform a cultural competence self-assessment. ... . Obtain a certificate in cultural competence. ... . Improve communication and language barriers. ... . Directly engage in cross-cultural interactions with patients. ... . Participate in online chats and networks.. |