Cultural competence

Cultural Competence
Student:
Professor:
Course title:
Date:
Cultural Competence
In order to be culturally competent, a nurse has to understand her/his own worldviews and the worldviews of the patient, whilst steering clear of stereotyping as well as misapplication of scientific knowledge. In essence, cultural competence is understood as getting cultural information and then making use of that knowledge (Jeffreys, 2011). It is important for the registered nurse (RN) to accommodate the cultural needs of patients and obtain cultural awareness since this will allow the nurse to see the entire picture and it will also improve the quality of health care and health outcomes. Nurses should be culturally aware so as to properly care for their patients and take care of their patients effectively. Basically, nurses should assess the patients’ cultural background so as to implement an apt plan of care (Jeffreys, 2011). By being culturally competent, a nurse has to ensure that nursing care is customized in order to fit the lifestyle, cultural beliefs, values, practices and traditions of the patient since quality healthcare could only take place within the cultural context of the patient. Moreover, having cultural competence can help in eliminating the hurdles to the delivery of health care.
The RN will be able to evaluate if the cultural needs have been met by looking at the compliance of the patient. Patients who might be seen as being noncompliant might just be having different healthcare practices basing upon their culture and their cultural needs would not have been met. If the patient’s cultural needs have been met, then the patient will not refuse care, and they would obey the instructions given to them by the nurses (Jeffreys, 2011). A patient in the homecare setting could decline to even speak to a nurse or let a nurs...