As the population in Ohio becomes more diverse, there’s an increased need for nurses to understand patients’ ideas of health and illness from a cultural perspective. A person’s world view is determined by many factors such as ethnic background, socioeconomic status, ability or disability, sexual orientation, age, gender, or occupation (Andrews & Boyle, 2016-a). Experience alone does not adequately prepare the nurse to provide care that is culturally competent. Knowledge from a formal course, or in-service is one step that a nurse can take to ensure that care given to minority patients is equal to care given to the majority population (Alpers & Hanssen, 2014). In this discussion, I will define some common transcultural terms, define self-assessment
…show more content…
This is referred to as cultural baggage, and we may or may not be aware of these influences. In order to provide patient care that is culturally competent, it’s essential for the nurse to perform a cultural self-assessment to identify thoughts, ideas and behaviors that are barriers to providing high quality nursing care. Part of the process of self-evaluation involves understanding the concepts of ethnocentrism, cultural imposition, prejudice, and discrimination, and evaluating how they impact our views. Ethnocentrism occurs when someone from a particular group views that group as superior to others because of the values and behaviors of their culture that they assimilated over time. Ethnocentrism often causes the group that thinks that they are superior to others, impose their beliefs, values and practices to other groups. This behavior is called cultural imposition. Nurses should also be aware of prejudice and discrimination in their practice. Prejudice occurs when someone has inaccurate beliefs about others based on ethnicity, race gender, orientation, disability, religion, etc. Discrimination describes the act of treating someone differently because of those same differences (Andrews & Boyle, …show more content…
However, it is beneficial for nurses to have a cultural understanding of the groups that the nurse frequently encounters. Overtime as nurses encounter additional groups more frequently, they should update their skills and knowledge. Cultural congruence places the patient at the center of care and delivers individualized care. It involves framing the patient’s plan of care around of the patient’s cultural values, beliefs, thoughts, and attitudes (Campinha-Bacote,
This is referred to as cultural baggage, and we may or may not be aware of these influences. In order to provide patient care that is culturally competent, it’s essential for the nurse to perform a cultural self-assessment to identify thoughts, ideas and behaviors that are barriers to providing high quality nursing care. Part of the process of self-evaluation involves understanding the concepts of ethnocentrism, cultural imposition, prejudice, and discrimination, and evaluating how they impact our views. Ethnocentrism occurs when someone from a particular group views that group as superior to others because of the values and behaviors of their culture that they assimilated over time. Ethnocentrism often causes the group that thinks that they are superior to others, impose their beliefs, values and practices to other groups. This behavior is called cultural imposition. Nurses should also be aware of prejudice and discrimination in their practice. Prejudice occurs when someone has inaccurate beliefs about others based on ethnicity, race gender, orientation, disability, religion, etc. Discrimination describes the act of treating someone differently because of those same differences (Andrews & Boyle, …show more content…
However, it is beneficial for nurses to have a cultural understanding of the groups that the nurse frequently encounters. Overtime as nurses encounter additional groups more frequently, they should update their skills and knowledge. Cultural congruence places the patient at the center of care and delivers individualized care. It involves framing the patient’s plan of care around of the patient’s cultural values, beliefs, thoughts, and attitudes (Campinha-Bacote,