Cultural competence in nursing allows a nurse to connect and work with patients while keeping their cultural beliefs, values, and preferences in mind. Nursing cultural competence encourages a collaborative, patient-centered care model. Nurses should strive to reflect on their own values while learning about others’ beliefs and values.
Patients with different cultural backgrounds or beliefs can affect how a nurse provides treatment. One patient might need to adjust the timing of their medication dosage to honor their fast for a holiday. Another might need an alternative medication because the gelatin capsules they were prescribed are not kosher. Nurses who have awareness and skills related to cultural competence are best positioned to provide patient-centered care.
At Concordia University, St. Paul, we emphasize the value of culturally appropriate care as part of a holistic care model. Our Accelerated BSN (ABSN) program is designed to be completed in as few as 16 months. After working through a curriculum combining online coursework with in-person labs and clinicals, students graduate ready to become practice-ready nurses committed to furthering patient care and improving health outcomes for diverse populations.
If you’re thinking about becoming a nurse, take a closer look at the concept and practice of cultural competence in nursing. Start by exploring the definition of cultural competence for nurses, along with its importance and benefits. Then, consider the components that comprise cultural competence and how you can apply the principles in your future work as a nurse.
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What Is Cultural Competence?
Nurses strive to provide patient-centered care, an approach that prioritizes the individual patient’s values, care needs, and preferences. Patient-centered care is collaborative and personal, and it emphasizes patient autonomy.
A nurse with cultural competence skills strives to learn about the patient’s needs and preferences and how their cultural values affect their journey through the healthcare system. That nurse then uses that information to communicate more effectively, collaborate with the patient, and provide culturally appropriate care that aligns with the patient’s preferences.
Culturally competent nursing care can be seen as a natural extension of patient-centered care. Nursing cultural competence enables nurses to deliver care that respects and values each patient’s cultural practices, beliefs, and experiences.
Benefits and Importance of Nursing Cultural Competence
Every patient deserves to be heard and seen without biases influencing the interaction, and every patient deserves to receive care that is truly in their own best interests as defined by the patient. Cultural competence in nursing empowers both nurses and patients, encouraging collaboration and stressing informed consent.
Some of the many benefits of culturally appropriate, patient-centered care include:
- Increased patient engagement: When patients feel that their cultural values and experiences are respected, they become more active participants in their own care by asking questions and making decisions.
- Trusting relationships: It’s important for patients to trust their healthcare providers. By stressing patient autonomy and valuing cultural diversity, nurses can begin to build trust.
- Better patient outcomes: Patients who receive culturally appropriate care could experience better outcomes. For example, if a patient receives treatment guidance that accommodates their religious or cultural needs, they may be more likely to adhere to the treatment guidelines.
Main Components of Cultural Competence for Nurses
Cultural competence in nursing is a complex concept, but it can be easier to understand broken down into its four main components: awareness, attitude, knowledge, and skills. Each helps build a better patient care experience.
1. Awareness
Just as patients have their own cultural values, beliefs, and experiences, so do nurses. Self-awareness is an essential foundation for cultural competence. As a prospective nurse, you should reflect on their experiences, beliefs, and values. Think of how yours might differ from a patient’s and reflect on how you can keep a patient’s beliefs in mind to give the best care possible.
2. Attitude
A nurse’s cultural background can shape their perception of patients. Nurses who accept and accommodate cultural differences will find that patients are more satisfied and receptive to care.
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3. Knowledge
Cultural knowledge is another essential component of nursing cultural competence. To provide appropriate care, nurses need to understand different cultural beliefs and values. For instance, religious or cultural factors like diet or fasting could impact the patient care plan if they make a patient less likely to cooperate with treatment. Nurses are encouraged to respectfully engage with patients and their loved ones, questioning them about their cultural preferences regarding care.
4. Skills
Cultural competence is a skill that can be refined with regular practice. By practicing communication skills, being conscious of body language, and keeping an eye out for any cultural pitfalls that could impact treatment, nurses can better serve the needs of all their patients.
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Steps You Can Take to Deliver Culturally Competent Nursing Care
There are many things you can do to ensure the nursing care you provide is culturally appropriate. You will encounter people from all walks of life as a nurse, and you will come to learn about the cultural beliefs, values, and practices of the people you care for.
Other tips for delivering culturally appropriate care include:
- Approaching every patient interaction with compassion and empathy
- Practicing active listening and avoiding making assumptions about patients
- Evaluating patients’ health literacy and using language that is easily understood
- Asking patients about their preferences
- Ensuring patients have access to a medical interpreter when needed
- Respecting patients’ cultural and religious beliefs and values, even if they conflict with treatment plans
Work Toward Your Nursing Future With Concordia University, St. Paul
If you have a completed non-nursing degree or at least 54 non-nursing credits from an accredited institution, you may be eligible to apply to our ABSN program in St. Paul, Minnesota, or Portland, Oregon. Our ABSN program allows future nurses to graduate in as few as 16 months with a BSN degree that prepares you for professional nursing practice. Our ABSN program exemplifies Christian principles and evidence-based practice to best serve each patient.
Reach out to our admissions advisors today to learn more. Your nursing journey is waiting.