What are the methods a nurse can use to gather cultural information from patient

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.
example 1 Erin Cultural competency has been defined as the ability of providers and organizations to effectively deliver healthcare services that meet diverse patients’ social, cultural, and linguistic needs, which can improve the quality and effectiveness of healthcare and may reduce racial and ethnic health disparities (Derouin, 2022). Nurses can use various methods to gather cultural patient information to provide culturally competent care. Observing patients’ behaviors, interactions with family members, and cultural practices can provide valuable insights into their cultural background. Asking open-ended questions about patients’ cultural backgrounds, beliefs, and practices can help nurses understand their cultural perspectives. Standardized cultural assessment tools can help nurses gather systematic information about patients’ cultural beliefs, values, and practices. Interviewing patients’ family members can provide additional information about their cultural background and beliefs. Cultural competence is essential for providing better patient care for several reasons. Firstly, understanding a patient’s cultural background helps healthcare providers communicate more effectively. This can lead to a better understanding of symptoms, treatment options, and health behaviors. Secondly, when patients feel that their healthcare provider understands and respects their cultural beliefs and practices, they are more likely to trust the provider and follow their recommendations. Finally, by understanding and addressing the cultural factors contributing to health disparities, healthcare providers can work towards reducing these disparities and improving health equity. Cultural competence in nursing involves several key actions and behaviors demonstrating respect for and understanding patients’ cultural beliefs, values, and practices. Nurses should be aware of their cultural beliefs, biases, and assumptions and how these may influence their interactions with patients from different cultures. Nurses should use effective communication techniques, such as active listening and clarifying questions, to ensure understanding and convey respect for patients’ cultural norms. Nurses should be flexible and willing to adapt their care practices to meet patients’ cultural needs and preferences. The professional imperative of delivering culturally congruous care can only be reached by achieving cultural competence through education, training, and experience. Cultural competence resulted from a lifelong education process and was positively influenced by professional experiences with people from different cultures (Cerveny et al., 2020). Nurses should engage in continuous learning and professional development to enhance their cultural competence and improve their ability to provide culturally competent care.
Červený, M., Dimunová, L., Della Pelle, C., Papp, K., Siaki, L. L. A., Kilíková, M., & Nagórska, M. (2020). Self‐Reported Cultural Competence of Nurses Providing Nursing Care in Slovakia. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 52(6), 705–712. https://doi-org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.1111/jnu.12601
Derouin, A. (2022). Culturally Aligned Health Care: Implications for Patient Care and the Nursing Profession. Creative Nursing, 28(2), 121–125. https://doi-org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.1891/CN-2022…
Example 2 Renet
Nurses can use several methods to gather cultural information from patients, which is essential for providing culturally competent care. These methods include conducting cultural assessments, engaging in active listening, asking open-ended questions, employing patient-centered communication techniques, and utilizing culturally appropriate health assessment tools. Cultural assessments allow nurses to understand patients’ health beliefs, values, and practices. Active listening and open-ended questions encourage patients to share their cultural perspectives and healthcare experiences. Patient-centered communication acknowledges the patient’s role in the decision-making process and respects their cultural preferences (Young & Guo, 2020). Cultural competence is directly related to better patient care as it enables nurses to provide care that is respectful of and responsive to the health beliefs, practices, and cultural and linguistic needs of diverse patients. This approach helps to overcome cultural barriers to care, enhances patient trust and engagement, and improves health outcomes. For instance, understanding a patient’s cultural background can influence dietary choices, perspectives on medical interventions, and preferences for end-of-life care, thereby ensuring that care plans are aligned with the patient’s values and beliefs.
Nurses demonstrate cultural competency in practice by showing respect for diversity, employing effective communication strategies tailored to the patient’s cultural context, and advocating for the patient’s cultural needs. This includes being aware of personal biases and how they might affect care, seeking cultural knowledge and resources to better understand the patient’s background, and adapting care plans to accommodate cultural preferences whenever possible (Byrne, 2020). Moreover, culturally competent nurses are advocates for policies and procedures that promote equity and access to healthcare for all patients, regardless of their cultural background. Incorporating cultural competence into nursing practice involves continuous learning and adaptation to meet the diverse needs of patients. By doing so, nurses not only improve the quality of care but also contribute to a more inclusive and equitable healthcare system.
References Byrne, D. (2020). Evaluating cultural competence in undergraduate nursing students using standardized patients. Teaching and Learning in Nursing, 15(1), 57-60. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1557308719302148
Young, S., & Guo, K. L. (2020). Cultural Diversity Training: The Necessity of Cultural Competence for Health Care Providers and in Nursing Practice. The health care manager, 39(2), 100–108. https://doi.org/10.1097/HCM.0000000000000294
Example 3 Elizabeth Culturally competent care hinges on deeply understanding different cultural beliefs and values. It begins with introspection and a willingness to set aside preconceived notions or biases against other cultures. By cultivating a spirit of acceptance toward patients and colleagues from all walks of life, nurses can provide the highest-quality care to a diverse range of individuals. To overcome potential cultural barriers and ensure that patients receive the quality care they deserve, nurses in clinical practice must have access to the most effective methods for developing cultural competence. Culturally competent care means providing care sensitive to the cultural issues and diversity of patient populations (Yadollahi, Ebadi, & Asadizaker, 2020).
Cultural competence benefits:
Patients are more likely to ask questions.
Patients are more likely to work with the nurse and develop a culturally appropriate care plan. Leads to better compliance and improved overall health outcomes.
It reduces the risk of healthcare disparities.
May improve patient satisfaction scores and increase patients’ trust in healthcare providers. Education in cultural competency in nursing practice is fundamental to human entitlement and respect. As such, nursing schools should provide ample opportunities for nurses to acquire these essential skills. During employment, job sites can provide yearly education on the importance in to provide culturally competent care and ensuring that they communicate with their patients, fairly, and understandably. They must also be reminded that the patient’s cultural and religious beliefs may arise in conflict between treatment plans. Understanding the ethnic composition and demographics of the patient population is also crucial to providing effective care and ensuring that a medical interpreter is available if the patient speaks a language other than English. Červený, M., Kratochvílová, I., Hellerová, V., & Tóthová, V. (2022). Methods of increasing cultural competence in nurses working in clinical practice: A scoping review of literature 2011-2021. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 936181. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.936181
Yadollahi, S., Ebadi, A., & Asadizaker, M. (2020). Measuring Cultural competence in nursing: a review study. Journal of Client-Centered Nursing Care, 6(3), 203-212.