Why Cultural Competence in Nursing Matters and How to Achieve It

In an increasingly interconnected world, healthcare must rise to meet the needs of a diverse population. Nursing, at the forefront of patient care, is no exception. Every day, nurses care for patients with varied cultural backgrounds, beliefs, and traditions that shape their experiences of health and illness. Yet, the healthcare system has not always been equipped to address these differences effectively, leading to disparities in care quality, access, and outcomes.

Addressing this diversity is where cultural competence in nursing becomes both beneficial and vital. Cultural competence in nursing is more than just awareness. It’s about building trust, fostering communication, and delivering care that respects the individual patient’s cultural identity. It’s fundamental to what nursing students learn in St. Catherine University’s nursing degree programs, including the RN to BSN Program.

As our healthcare system grapples with existing inequalities, developing a culturally competent workforce can close gaps in care and ensure all patients feel understood and respected. With a thoughtful and intentional approach, nurses can meet this challenge, transforming the care they provide by honoring the rich diversity of the communities they serve.

The Importance of Cultural Competence in Nursing

As the U.S. population grows more diverse, nurses encounter patients from various cultural, ethnic, and religious backgrounds. To provide adequate care, nurses must understand and respect these differences, tailoring their approach to meet each patient’s unique needs.

This is an essential factor in today’s healthcare system for several reasons.

Enhancing Patient-Centered Care

Cultural competence enables nurses to deliver care that is sensitive to patient needs and values. Every culture has unique beliefs surrounding health, illness, and medical treatment. For instance, particular cultural groups may have preferences regarding gender roles in caregiving, diet during hospitalization, or spiritual practices. By acknowledging and accommodating these differences, nurses can create a more comfortable environment for patients, which leads to better patient satisfaction and trust in healthcare providers.

Reducing Health Disparities

Health disparities refer to differences in health outcomes often tied to economic, social, or cultural factors. They remain a frequent problem in healthcare. Culturally competent nursing care can help mitigate these disparities. Nurses well-versed in cultural competence are better equipped to recognize and address barriers to care, such as language differences or misconceptions about medical treatments. This understanding improves access to healthcare for marginalized populations and promotes health equity​.

Building Trust and Improving Communication

Nurses often serve as the main point of contact between the patient and the healthcare system. Establishing trust is essential to effective patient care, and cultural competence is key to building that trust. When nurses can communicate effectively and respect a patient’s cultural background, patients are more likely to engage in open dialogue about their symptoms and concerns. This leads to more accurate diagnoses, better adherence to treatment plans, and improved health outcomes.

Enhancing Patient Safety and Outcomes

Cultural differences can sometimes result in misunderstandings that compromise patient safety. For example, a nurse who does not recognize a patient’s cultural reluctance to discuss certain symptoms might overlook a critical aspect of their health. By being culturally competent, nurses can avoid such errors, ensure patients are comfortable sharing information, and develop care plans that align with patients’ cultural beliefs and lead to better patient outcomes.

How to Achieve Cultural Competence in Nursing

Nurses in an RN to BSN program can follow various pathways to improve their cultural competence.

• Self-reflection and awareness
  This is where developing cultural competence starts. Nurses should regularly reflect on their own cultural biases and assumptions. Everyone holds unconscious biases but recognizing them is the first step toward minimizing their impact on patient care.
• Cultural education and training
  Nurses should actively pursue education and training in cultural competence. This can involve attending workshops and seminars or completing online courses that cover topics like cross-cultural communication and diversity.
• Effective communication
  Cross-cultural communication is at the heart of cultural competence. Nurses should develop skills in both verbal and non-verbal communication, as these are often influenced by cultural norms.
• Incorporating cultural practices into care
  Whenever possible, nurses should incorporate patients’ cultural practices into their care. This could involve respecting dietary restrictions, understanding traditional healing methods, or facilitating spiritual practices.
• Continuous improvement
  Cultural competence is not a skill that can be mastered overnight. It requires continuous effort, learning, and adaptation. Nurses should seek feedback from patients and colleagues, stay updated on best practices, and regularly assess their performance.

Learning Cultural Competence in Nursing at St. Catherine University

At St. Catherine University, all nursing degree programs help students learn to listen to others, understand their viewpoints, respect their cultural backgrounds, and practice cultural competence in nursing. The university’s RN to BSN and other programs offer information on multicultural healing practices and how they differ from Western medicine, which is increasingly valued in culturally competent nursing.

Students in the RN to BSN program learn how respecting diverse cultures can improve patient outcomes and decrease systemic inequities. This includes overcoming common communication barriers and learning the five components of cultural competence:

• Cultural Awareness
• Cultural Knowledge
• Cultural Skill
• Cultural Encounter (interacting with patients from all cultural backgrounds)
• Cultural Desire (wanting to engage with people from other cultures)

Cultural competence is essential for providing high-quality, equitable healthcare in today’s diverse world. Achieving cultural competence is an ongoing process that involves self-reflection, education, and a commitment to understanding and respecting the cultural backgrounds of all patients. Through these efforts, nurses can play a pivotal role in creating a more inclusive and compassionate healthcare system.