Reference no: EM133397853

Question: A nurse has many avenues to gather patients' cultural information. For those who are mentally capable, conducting a verbal assessment can be utilized. Once a nurse's questions are answered and the patient's values are determined then culturally competent care can be provided. Knowing the patient's ethnicity only provides a one-size-fits-all approach that isn't necessarily appropriate. Cultural competence is best when individualized. Patients that aren't capable of providing this information can have this information provided to a nurse by the patients' family, emergency contact, or POA.

Cultural competence relates to better care. It is so because as previously discussed, social determinants of health affects client health outcomes. Being cultural competence implies stacking the deck in the patient's favor so they can meet their goals with less difficulty. Falkner (2018) states, the patient's cultural care worldview acknowledges that health is directly influenced by a variety of factors, such as social, religious, economic, and cultural.

A nurse can demonstrate cultural competency in their nursing practice by providing care in ways the patient or family values. For example, only allowing staff of the patient's gender to provide their personal care. Providing spiritual care by the patient's faith leader or allowing the patient's family to provide cultural foods to help with meeting nutrition goals. Nursing demands a holistic approach to patient care. In reducing health disparities, cultural competence is a must. Behavioral health equity is the right to access high-quality and affordable health care services and supports for all populations regardless of creed, religion, sexual orientation, and more (SAMHSA, n.d.).