Abstract
This paper deals with the topic of Cultural Competence. Cultural Competence means dealing properly and effectively with people from different religions and cultures. Cultural competence comprises four components:
- Awareness of one’s own cultural worldview
- Attitude towards cultural differences
- Knowledge of different cultural practices and worldviews, and
- Cross-cultural Skills.
The healthcare was, among the first institutions to promote the concept of Cultural Competence. It is basically the attitude with which an individual has to communicate with a person from a different culture. A wrong diagnosis, in case of healthcare, may lead to a never ending prejudice in the minds of the other cultures. Therefore, this paper tells the reader, why is it necessary to develop the right attitude towards individuals from different cultures.
We come across several people in our lives, who belong to different caste, race, religion or cultures. And, this calls for a manner to talk to and behave with people from different walks of life. They are born and brought up in different places and communities. They have a different way of talking or communicating with others.
The paper tells us the way this cultural competence needs to be carried out. Cultural competence is becoming increasingly necessary for work, home, community social lives (Mercedes Martin & Billy Vaughn. Strategic Diversity & Inclusion Management Magazine. pp. 31-36).
Cultural Competence is not always about looking for the differences between the different races, but also to bridge the gap and strengthen the similarities they possess. Only then will the concept of Cultural Competence be realized. The various ethnic groups that live in a foreign country, do sometimes face indifferences from the people of that country.
The process of cultural competence consists of 5 interrelated constructs: cultural desire, cultural awareness, cultural knowledge, cultural skill, and cultural encounters; the key — pivotal construct is cultural desire (Cultural Competence: An Integral Part of Holistic Nursing Practice).
In cultural competency, a nurse always tries to behave in the required manner wit her clients who are from different cultural backgrounds. She should be able to efficiently communicate with the client, his/her family and also be able to comprehend the problem of the party. This is one important part of cultural competency in nursing cares. A nurse should not be holding bad opinions or bad thoughts about the other culture. In that case, she may not do full justice to the treatment of the patient, because of her ill feelings towards the person.
A nurse must also perform an in-depth retrospection of her own culture and behavior. She must realize the pain one goes through when they are not treated properly because of the culture or the caste they belong to.
Cultural skill incorporates the knowledge of the patient’s history and background with all the important facts and figures. She should have in herself the desire to be culturally competent with her clients, only then can she do justice to her work. If she is not willing to work for culturally diverse people, then she may not exhibit cultural competence. This also means that she doesn’t have any understanding of the concept. They must realize the importance of being competent with people of different cultures and regions.
If at all, she is careless about being committed towards her job, then this may indirectly hamper the relations between two different cultures. To avoid this, the health care institutions must make sure that their nurses must be culturally competent.
If one has a sound cultural knowledge, he or she will be able to blend with the other cultures without any trouble or uncomforting. The most important factor is that, the nurse must have a desire to understand the cultures of others. She must have the want to know about cultures different from hers, so that she can better understand the needs and problems of her clients who belong to different cultures.
Therefore, it is essential to imbibe in oneself, the concept of cultural competence. This will, better the relationships of people from totally different cultures and regions.
References
Cultural Competence: An Integral Part of Holistic Nursing Practice. 2008. Web.
Mercedes Martin & Billy Vaughn. Strategic Diversity & Inclusion Management magazine. Cultural competence. Web.