TITLE:
Becoming a culturally competent nurse
AUTHORS:
Valarie F. Thomas
KEYWORDS:
Safe Nursing Care; Nursing Care Needs; Quality Nursing Care; Provide Nursing Care; Quality Patient Care
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Nursing,
Vol.3 No.8A,
December
30,
2013
ABSTRACT: Cultural competence in nursing provides an ideal avenue to meet the various needs of our patients while providing them with safe, competent care. “Racial and ethnic differences in family expectations or preferences for care are not yet well identified and cataloged, but they may uniquely affect individual ratings or experience with care” [1]. The purpose of this article is to enlighten nurses as health care providers about cultural care in an effort to provide that safe, competent care. Many times patients present for care at hospitals and clinics with language barriers and preconceived ideas based on their own cultural beliefs and practices. It is ideal when we, as nurses have the ability to meet those needs in an effort to meet patient’s expectations and healthcare needs. In order to meet the diverse needs of our growing multi-cultural population, it is becoming apparent that we must not only provide care based on the physical needs, but the entire person’s needs relevant to their cultural beliefs regarding healthcare practices and the healing process.