Cultural Competency In Nursing Education What is Cultural Competency?

Cultural competency is a set of congruent behaviors, attitudes, and policies that enable effective work in cross-cultural situations (Cross et al., 1989). It involves the understanding and application of cultural beliefs, heritage, behaviors, and attitudes in healthcare settings (Giger et al., 2007). Culture encompasses the beliefs, customs, practices, and social behaviors of a particular nation or people (American Nurses Association [ANA], 1991). In nursing, cultural competence means providing care that is respectful of and responsive to the health beliefs, practices, and cultural and linguistic needs of diverse patients.

Impact of Cultural Competencies in Nursing Education

The increasing diversity of the United States population (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010) necessitates the integration of cultural competence into nursing education. Developing cultural competence in nursing involves understanding and respecting diverse cultural values, beliefs, and healthcare practices (Douglas et al., 2011). Several models and tools are available to teach cultural competence and perform cultural assessments. For instance, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Tool Kit of Resources for Culturally Competent Education for Baccalaureate Nurses (2008) provides numerous resources, including recommendations for models that can be employed in nursing education.

The National League of Nursing (NLN) emphasizes that:

1. Cultural competence is crucial for delivering culturally congruent care to every patient.
2. It requires awareness of one’s own values, beliefs, and perspectives in addition to understanding these aspects in others (Jeffreys, 2010).
3. The development of cultural competence necessitates interactions with diverse families, communities, healthcare providers, and patients (Leininger & McFarland, 2002).

Cultural competence involves an ongoing process where nursing students and professionals must continuously learn and apply knowledge about different cultures to provide equitable and effective care.

Outcomes of Cultural Competencies in Nursing Education

Nursing faculty and students can develop cultural competence by assessing and becoming aware of their own cultural backgrounds and biases. This involves maintaining a sensitive, open attitude toward others and acknowledging potential prejudices. The journey to cultural competence begins in nursing education and should be actively modeled by nurse educators who demonstrate their commitment to this continuous process.

To achieve the desired outcomes in cultural competence, nurse educators should:

1. Promote Self-Awareness and Reflection: Encourage students and faculty to explore and reflect on their own cultural identities, values, and beliefs. This practice can help identify personal biases that may impact patient care.
2. Foster Inclusive Learning Environments: Create a learning environment where diversity is valued and where students feel safe to discuss and learn from each other’s cultural experiences.
3. Implement Diverse Learning Activities: Use interactive and diverse teaching methods such as role-playing, case studies, and cultural immersion experiences to help students understand and appreciate different cultural perspectives.
4. Enhance Faculty Development: Provide continuing education programs for faculty to improve their cultural competence. Ongoing professional development helps ensure that educators are well-equipped to teach and model culturally competent behaviors (Douglas et al., 2011).
5. Engage in Community Collaboration: Facilitate partnerships with diverse communities and healthcare organizations to provide students with real-world experiences that build cultural competence.
6. Encourage Evidence-Based Practice: Promote research in the teaching, learning, and assessment of cultural competence to expand evidence-based practice. This approach will help identify effective strategies and tools for fostering cultural competence in nursing education.

Conclusion

Cultural competence is a fundamental component of nursing education that enhances the quality of care provided to diverse populations. By understanding and respecting the cultural beliefs and practices of patients, nursing students and professionals can deliver care that is both effective and empathetic. Nursing educators play a critical role in fostering cultural competence by modeling culturally sensitive behaviors and creating inclusive learning environments. Continued research and professional development are essential to advancing cultural competence in nursing practice and education.