Whether a nurse works in a hospital, a doctor’s office or a long-term care facility, they are likely to encounter a wide range of patients throughout the course of their career. Developing an ability to understand the perspectives of others — and being aware of cultural differences that may impact patient care — can help nurses become better healthcare providers.
Cultural competence in nursing has grown increasingly important in recent years, particularly as healthcare professionals work to prioritize inclusion efforts. Culturally competent nursing care is considered one of the best pathways toward truly patient-centered care.
What Is Cultural Competence in Nursing?
According to NurseJournal.org, cultural competence in nursing refers to the ability to work and care for a vast variety of people, regardless of their cultural background. In an ever-diverse and complex world, culturally competent nursing care has never been more critical.
The Importance of Cultural Competence in Nursing
Cultural competence in nursing allows nurses to become more aware of the impact a patient’s cultural beliefs, heritage and traditions may have on their preferences. According to Indeed, culturally competent nursing care is crucial because:
- It helps improve overall patient outcomes, as nurses are able to provide patients with the personalized care they both need and deserve.
- It allows patients to play a powerful role in their own treatment plan. Patients who feel seen, heard and represented within the healthcare system feel more empowered to actively communicate with their care team and advocate for themselves.
- It improves overall health equity and access, as culturally competent nursing care helps patients feel as if their needs will be met within the healthcare system.
The 4 Components for Culturally Competent Care
There are four key components involved in culturally competent care, which include:
Cultural Worldview
Defined as the general perception and beliefs about an individual culture, cultural worldview plays a pivotal role in culturally competent care. Nurses need to be aware of the cultural worldviews of various cultures and actively work to dispel any stereotypes or myths that may exist about those cultures.
Cultural Differences
Cultural differences refer to the numerous traditions, beliefs and values that are upheld within a particular culture and the differences that may exist from one culture to another. Cultural differences between patients and care providers can lead to unintended outcomes, which is why it’s essential that nurses work to understand cultural differences and bridge the gap between them.
Cultural Practices and Worldviews
Cultural practices are the manifestation of a culture or subculture based on shared beliefs and traditions. Again, awareness of various cultural practices and worldviews can help nurses provide patients with personalized and attentive care.
Cross-Cultural Skills
A type of interpersonal skills that allow a professional to not only understand the perspective of a person from a different culture but also interact with them effectively and respectfully, cross-cultural skills are vital among the nursing workforce. Nurses need cross-cultural skills in order to provide their patients with compassionate care.
Examples of Culturally Competent Nursing Care
The following are some of the ways nurses can become more culturally competent while working with patients:
- Avoiding assumptions
- Active listening
- Reflection on biases
- Accommodation and education
- Using common and understandable language
- Recruiting diverse staff members
- Working in diverse settings
- Evaluating their own perspectives
By actively working to become a more culturally competent nurse, you will be able to connect better with all your patients and provide them with the intuitive care they need, regardless of their treatment or diagnosis.
How Patients and Hospitals Benefit From Culturally Competent Care
While culturally competent care directly benefits patients, it also positively influences healthcare facilities at large. This is how both patients and hospitals benefit from culturally competent care:
Enhanced Health Outcomes Across Diverse Communities
Over the course of history, underrepresented communities have not received the care that they both require and deserve within the healthcare system. By prioritizing and improving culturally competent care, healthcare facilities of all sizes and in all locations can enhance health outcomes among these populations.
Reduced Health Disparities and Inequities
Culturally competent care can help reduce health disparities and inequities, ultimately elevating access and representation within the healthcare industry. For patients, this allows them to receive necessary care and be aware of the resources that exist. For hospitals, this helps improve patient outcomes and boost overall satisfaction ratings.
Increased Trust and Communication Between Patients and Healthcare Providers
Additionally, culturally competent care allows patients to feel seen, heard and respected within the healthcare system, which can increase the level of trust between patients and providers. As healthcare providers earn the trust of their patients, they can deliver improved care and outcomes.
Strengthened Patient-Provider Relationships
Particularly within the field of nursing, culturally competent care allows providers to develop stronger relationships with their patients. Nurses often work directly with patients and have a central role in helping them understand treatment options and the reasons behind particular treatment plans. When nurses strengthen these relationships, they are able to more effectively perform their job duties and ensure that patients experience the best possible outcomes.
Promotion of Inclusive Healthcare Practices
Culturally competent care helps promote inclusive healthcare practices to ensure that all patients, regardless of age, gender, race, sexual orientation, religion or background, receive the care they need. Inclusive healthcare practices will bolster trust among the local population and organically improve patient outcomes, which can help a facility grow and prosper in the years to come.
How to Improve Cultural Competence as a Nurse
Nurses play a key role in improving cultural competence in the healthcare field. On an individual level, nurses can take responsibility for the care they provide and work to hone their culturally competent nursing care over time.
Be Open to Learning From Others
Nurses who want to become more culturally aware and competent should begin by keeping an open mind. Not only should they actively work to learn from other nurses around them (particularly those who come from a different culture or background than their own), but they also should seek to learn from their patients. Patients can provide valuable insight into their own beliefs and perspectives, helping nurses develop a better understanding of a range of cultural beliefs and traditions.
Establish Common Ground With Patients
On the surface, cultural competency may seem to revolve largely around becoming aware of cultural differences and finding ways to bridge the gaps that exist between cultures. While being aware of the perspectives and beliefs of others is critical, it’s also necessary for nurses to find common ground with their patients. In many cases, nurses are able to form a relationship based on mutual respect with patients by focusing on their similarities rather than their differences.
Partake in Cultural Competence Training
As part of their profession, nurses are always participating in ongoing training to improve their skills and further their education. Cultural competence training can play a vital part in any continuing education plan, helping nurses become more familiar with the best practices in culturally competent care as well as the ways they can become more culturally aware and responsible. Cultural competence training can focus on enhanced communication and awareness of health equity issues in our modern world.
Actively Seeking Exposure to Diverse Patient Populations
Ultimately, the best way to become a culturally competent nurse is to work hands-on with a diverse range of patients. Nurses can and should seek employment opportunities and training programs that expose them to diverse patient populations, as this is the only way to truly get to know patients of differing cultures, backgrounds and religious beliefs. By actively working with patients who are different from themselves, nurses can become more aware of their own biases while improving their understanding of others’ perspectives.
Continuous Self-Reflection and Awareness of Cultural Biases
The fact of the matter is that everyone — regardless of their own cultural identity or socioeconomic status — has cultural biases to be aware of and address. For nurses, it’s essential to engage in regular self-reflection to become more aware of those cultural biases and take active steps to reduce and eliminate them. This is the only way to provide patients with objective and attentive care.
Incorporating Cultural Assessments Into Patient Care Plans
Cultural assessments are tools nurses and care providers can use to get to know their patients better. These assessments are given to patients upon check-in, asking them to identify any beliefs or values they hold that may have an impact on the care they receive. These cultural assessments can help nurses become instantly aware of their patients’ goals and expectations, in turn helping them adapt the treatment plan accordingly.
Advocating for Culturally Sensitive Policies and Practices Within Healthcare Institutions
Nurses can become powerful advocates for their patients by lobbying for culturally sensitive policies and practices within healthcare facilities. These policies help protect patient needs and ensure nurses are able to safely and effectively provide all patients with personalized care.
How to Address and Overcome Common Barriers in Cultural Competence
Some common barriers to achieving cultural competence in nursing include:
- Lack of diversity in healthcare leadership
- Lack of inclusive healthcare policies and procedures
- Lack of understanding of the importance of cultural competence in healthcare
Nurses can work to overcome these by improving their own sense of cultural competence, working to implement training opportunities at all levels that strengthen cultural, and enhancing recruitment efforts aimed at diverse healthcare providers.
Become an Inclusive, Culturally Competent Nurse at Nevada State University
At Nevada State University, we are proud to offer an array of online nursing degree programs — including an RN to BSN online program — that allow nurses to advance their skill set and improve their professional approach. Culturally competent nursing care is an integral part of our degree programs so nurses can become providers who value the cultural beliefs and traditions of all patients.
Request more information about our online nursing degree programs today.