Cultural Competence in Nursing: A Quick Guide

Health disparity is the term used to describe health differences related to interpersonal, economic, and environmental disadvantages that cause groups to face greater health obstacles. Health equity aims to reduce and eliminate health disparities by distributing assets according to need. Enrolling in licensed practical nursing schools might be a better option for acquiring comprehensive clinical skills with education courses.

In clinical settings, multicultural and knowledge of cultures, and inclusivity are all efforts to combat the disparities in healthcare which lead to poorer health outcomes among disadvantaged racial or ethnic communities.

In certain American areas, for example, the standard duration of life can differ by several decades, according to Dr. Jamil Norris, a registered nursing instructor, and registered nurse, Black mothers are three to four times more likely than white mothers to die during childbirth in the United States.

This guide discusses the importance of cultural competence in nursing concerning health equity in the U.S. It also includes insight into how practical nurses who provide medical care and patients can benefit from culturally-competent care get from prerequisite courses. 

What Does It Mean to Be Culturally Competent in Nursing?

The term “culture” is used to describe interconnected human behavior traits, such as norms, values, and traditions, that influence the thinking and behaviors of individuals in a particular group. Cultural competency is the ability to interact effectively with people from different backgrounds.

The importance of cultural competence in nursing is centered on equity in healthcare through patient-centered care. This requires that each patient be seen as an individual.

According to Dr. Gregory Knapik (DNP, assistant professor), “Nurses need to be able to understand and appreciate cultural backgrounds to perform their jobs effectively and provide the best possible care.”

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Norman defines cultural competence in health care as interacting with, making effective communication, and understanding people from many civilizations and ethnicities, ethnicities, genders, and sexual orientations.

To strengthen your nursing practice foundation, a nursing degree in Illinois helps build a rewarding career. This method enables LPN to treat patients successfully even when their principles, evidence-based practices, and values directly conflict with healthcare facilities and medical standards. The ability for LPN to customize and explain treatment plans based on patient’s needs can be developed by clinical practice. These may include cultural practices outside of traditional medicine’s scope.

Knapik says that a deeper connection with patients can be made by implementing awareness of culture in the right way. You will gain patients’ trust by empathizing with their unique needs and differences.

What Does It Mean to Be Culturally Competent in Nursing?

Culturally competent care is composed of four components. These are an awareness of the cultural worldview of each individual, attitudes toward cultural differences, knowledge about different worldviews and cultural practices, and cross-cultural skills. These components contribute to a high level of cultural competence in nursing, and nurses can integrate them into patient care.

Benefits of Culturally Competent Care

The following examples demonstrate cultural competence in nursing:

1. The healthcare team must use language that patients can understand.

2. Respecting the cultural and religious beliefs of patients that conflict with treatment plans.

3. Recruitment of health professionals from underserved and diverse LGBTQ+ communities.

4. Analyzing the ethnic composition of patients currently served.

5. Identification of patients in communities and populations that are underserved.

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Tips to Improve Cultural Competence 

Nursing with cultural competence leads to more effective trust-building and better patient outcomes. Also, considering a practical nursing program near me can develop valuable clinical skills in cultural competence in nursing. This guide explains how to develop cultural competency in both your work and that of your health care team in health care settings.

1. Your perspective as a practitioner/patient can be changed.

2. You can share something about your own culture that may be similar to the culture of your patient.

3. You can learn a lot from your colleagues and coworkers.

4. Learn a new language.

5. Completing continuing college of nursing.