Posted: March 28th, 2021

Nursing Assignment

Cultural awareness and sensitivity has become a necessary tool in nursing because; given the diversity in the growth of different populations, it has become imperative for nurses to understand various cultures and also respect the different practices in order to ensure holistic patient care at all levels of management. One among other tools that have been developed to help gather cultural information is the Heritage Assessment Tool. Through the outcomes of the survey from this tool, a nurse is able to gather relevant information about a patient’s culture, beliefs, needs and practices that may affect their care and treatment.

While the tool is useful in structuring individualized patient care plans, it is also helpful in educating nurses adequately on new cultures thereby expanding their cultural competency foundation (Falkner, 2018). Some of the other tools used include; CCCC model, ACCESS model, The Process of Cultural Competence in the Delivery of Healthcare Services Model among others (Higginbottom, Richter & Mollel, 2011). Regardless of the tool being used the relevance remains in how the data would be used in the caring for patients.

Cultural competency is the act of being aware of different cultural practices that helps a nurse to adjust care plans appropriately and to constantly remain sensitive and respectful of the choices that patients make based on those practices. Cultural competency leans on cultural awareness through thorough assessment of patients and its relevance to patient care is emphasized on ensuring safety at all costs. The nurse therefore has the responsibility to understand that some cultural beliefs have health practices that are considered unsafe to other cultures that don’t share in the same beliefs. For example, the [practice of female genital mutilation seen in middle east countries, Africa and southeast Asia is a practice where the female genitalia is partially or totally removed for non-medical purposes (WHO, 2018).

Because of the many risks this practice poses on women healthy, the nurse caring for such clients must remain sensitive especially in their choice of words. Furthermore, child protection issues should be taken into account and advocacy for [patient safety should be considered if a minor is to undergo this procedure. Hence, understanding a client’s cultural preferences if beneficial for effective patient care (Falkner, 2018). Even though various barriers to health exist among different cultures, nurses are to remain focused on enhancing quality patient care by ensuring safety.

Some of the ways cultural competency can be demonstrated is first, through comprehensive assessment. It is from such gained information that the nurse is able to understand family dynamics from which a customized care plan can be formulated to accommodate the needs.

Secondly, while addressing emerging populations of immigrants, the nurse should be aware that most individuals lack knowledge to navigate the complex healthcare system and thus through collaboration with other interdisciplinary members, interpretive services should be provided to ensure effective management and smooth transition of care. Lastly, through cultural competency, nurses are able to identify vulnerable populations such as pregnant women, human fetuses, cognitively impaired et cetera, and by working with other interdisciplinary members, that helps to ensure provision of resources that would enhance adequate health care Get Nursing homework help today