4 Tips for nurses to provide culturally competent care

Culturally competent care is more than a privilege. 

According to the American Hospital Association, cultural competency in health care is the ability to provide care to patients with diverse values, beliefs, and behaviors, including tailoring health care delivery to meet patients' social, cultural, and linguistic needs. Cultural consideration begins in the neighborhoods medical professionals serve. More than 18 million people in the U.S. speak English less than fluently. Racial and ethnic minorities are disproportionately affected by the lack of cultural competence. For medical professionals without cultural competence, the consequences are dire for the patients they serve including, a higher risk for poor health, dissatisfaction of care, and low-quality care. Here are four ways to bring culturally sensitive care to patients:

Overcome Language Barriers. 

When medical professionals and patients have a language barrier, providing adequate medical care can be difficult and uncomfortable. What's more challenging is the inability to care for a patient who is stressed or in pain. As a solution, creating basic phrases and greetings for foreign languages can set the tone and help the patient understand you are here to help. With the advancement of technology, we have access to translation apps that include voice to text, handwriting translation, and much more to create rapport and trust. Overcoming language barriers can help provide adequate care.

Cultural assumptions.

Globalization and social media have opened up experiences to different cultures and traditions from around the world. However, assumptions about tradition and culture can make treating patients difficult when it comes to Western medicine and healthcare. Nurses unfamiliar with herbal remedies or holistic treatments can lose a patient's trust if they assume the type of care needed. The solution is simple, ask questions. More often than not, patients are receptive to nurses who want to know more about their cultural specific needs and are willing to educate. Communication is key to building trust.

Hit the books.

Culturally competent nursing affects health and care literacy. When patients from differing cultural backgrounds have a hard time understanding healthcare practices, nurses are tasked with diagnosis and treatment to understand the patients' cultural needs. Finding reputable sources of the cultural backgrounds in many dominant cultures and asking questions about what matters to the patient's needs will show the effort needed to have cultural sensitivity.  

Less speech, more language.

Cultural competence examples in healthcare can be a great place to start. Use phones, computers, or tablets to show a patient what the effects are within the body of health conditions. Pictures tell their own story and are practical tools to help others understand despite language or cultural barriers. 

Cultural barriers in nursing can become obsolete by asking your peers, a translator, or exploring technology. While it is not always accurate, body language can also help with patient communication. Remembering your patient will help dispel cultural assumptions and help drive cultural sensitivity. Help your patients understand their healthcare better.