Question

What are the methods a nurse can use to gather cultural information from patients? How does cultural competence relate to better patient care? Discuss the ways in which a nurse demonstrates cultural competency in nursing practice.

Answer 1

1.Nurse can use cultural awareness, knowledge, skill and encounter to gather cultural information from patients.

• Learning basic general information about predominant cultural groups.
• Create opportunities to interact with predominant cultural groups.
• Learn about prominent cultural belief and practices and incorporate this knowledge into planning nursing care.
• Use an agency interpreter if possible.

2 Cultural competence is a process that involves the integration of knowledge, attitudes and skills that enhance cross-cultural communication and foster meaningful, respectful interaction with others. It helps the nurse to understand the patient better and helps them to better prepare the health care provider to recognize, understand and manage sociocultural issues that happen in cultural encounters.

3.The following strategies for culturally competent care maybe helpful.

• Consider each of your client as unique, influenced but not defined by their culture.
• Know your own cultural values, beliefs and practices and appreciate how they may be different from those.
• Never let your own biases about people and groups stand in the way of good care.
• Learn as much you can about cultural groups in your community.
• Make an effort to include beliefs and practices from other cultures into your care when appropriate.
• Try to encourage helpful cultural practices and discourage harmful ones.
• Be aware of how you communicate with others be aware of verbal and nonverbsl patterns.
• Finally learn from your mistakes.