Question

Select a cultural group different from your own (Native American), to which you provide health care. Using the model for developing cultural humility and competence, identify strategies for each domain (intrapersonal, interpersonal, system and organization, and global) that will improve the health care given to individuals in this group.

Answer 1

Cultural humility is one of the essential components in professional nursing practice. Each one of the patients has their own cultural values, norms, and beliefs. Cultural humility is a lifelong process and understanding of patient's cultures helps the nurse for maintaining a therapeutic relationship and to provide better care. The nurse must aware of the patient's cultural value and to respect them. For culturally competent care, the nurse should focus on the limitations in the level of understanding of cultural factors and the potential power of nurse in interacting with the patient. The organization should implement the essential strategies to resolve the challenges in culturally competent health care. Identify the political issues and barriers to cultural diversity. Culturally competent care reduces health disparities and improves the possible health outcome.

For example, when caring of Asian patient, the acculturation occurs due to the language barrier. Use of the patient's language, the presence of family members minimize the barrier and improves the care. When planning for the diet menu, the cultural practices should be taken into account which develops trust and rapport with the patient. Spend enough time with the patient to gain the confidentiality of the patient.