Cultural Competency in Mental Health - Essay Example

"Cultural Competency in Mental Health" is a perfect example of a paper on depression. In offering mental health services, nurses need the competence to provide culturally appropriate services to a diverse population. Health procedures should consider the client’s cultural background to improve patient outcomes in a psychiatric unit. In this evidence-based practice paper, I will examine how nurses can incorporate cultural information in patient assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation.

This essay uses culture in the context of ethnic and gender identity, and a case in point is an Asian-American male patient, a Chinese, to be precise. AssessmentWang lei, 38, is married and lives with his wife and two children, and holds Protestantism views. He visited a healthcare facility and complained of stress, sleep inconsistency, and stress. He came to the psychiatric unit for a prognosis. In this section, I will highlight what I will assess in him. In the Chinese culture, discussing mental issues is considered taboo, and they stigmatize mental health patients; I would assess his willingness to discuss details.

Also, I would determine whether he’s finding it hard to balance the two cultures, Asian and American. Besides, I would like to know if he’s a victim of racial discrimination. Moreover, I would check if he’s experiencing parental pressure to excel academically and burdened with family obligations based on their strong cultural ties. ("Mental health among Asian-Americans," n.d.). Further, being a Chinese male, I would like to find out whether he’ll be free to discuss family issues because he’s possibly the family spokesman and decision-maker.

Finally, I will assess his capacity to communicate in English effectively.DiagnosisBased on statistics, African-Asians are less likely to have mental health conditions compared to whites. However, when such circumstances arise, they’re thrice less likely to seek medical attention than their white counterparts. ("Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders," n.d.). Wang lei laments that the world has little to offer and has given up. Also, he has little hope that medical attention will sort out his stress-related problems.

To add to that, he’s a new immigrant experiencing a cultural shock. In his state, Wang lei is at risk of depression, bipolar, and other mood disorders. Besides, he is at risk of dementia and would need help. Otherwise, he can easily ignore therapy. PlanningThe first thing would be to have a thorough comprehension of safety policies. Also, a plan to implement the healthcare facility’s safety compliance plan is essential. Besides, a decision to offer patient-centered care will go a long way in improving the quality of care.

Lastly, an idea on how to effectively communicate patient safety information is critical and will avoid medical errors. (Dingley et al., n.d.).ImplementationAs a culturally competent nurse, I propose the operationalization of cultural safety in all healthcare facilities and workforce development. Consequently, I have studied the Asian American cultural history and would implement the safety compliance plan to ensure Wang lei feels safe. ("How to ensure patient safety in a healthcare setting," 2020).

Having acknowledged the inherent barriers to clinical effectiveness, I will meet his expectations in my conduct, language, and address. The first thing is to ensure that we’re in an open natural environment free from any disturbance. I have learned to examine myself and not let my cultural biases, stereotypes, prejudices, and attitudes lower the quality of care I will offer. Also, I will engage him in a two-way dialogue, be open-minded, and respect his views; this will, in a way, build trust and confidence.

Besides, I would let him decide whether he feels safe. For instance, if he has a language barrier, I would allow him to come with a translator of his choice, whom he trusts. Also, he’s possibly affected by stigma for seeking medical attention for mental conditions. I would request his family members to be in attendance when educating him and administering drugs. ("Providing culturally appropriate care: A literature review," n.d.). EvaluationIn evaluating success in handling barriers to effective communication, I would measure the percentage of questions he answered openly and freely.

The percentage indicates the level of rapport and trust built. Moreover, I would ask him to rate his experience in the assessment, and if he is excited about it, then my objectives were met. Besides, I will count the number of his family members who attend his training and medical administration session. Also, the presence of one trusted moderator is an indicator of effective communication. Lastly, I will follow up to ensure the medicine was taken as prescribed and will quantify the percentage adherence to medication.

ConclusionInstitutional changes are essential in ensuring culturally competent and safe medical services. For instance, a course on cultural competence needs to be inclusive in the syllabus for all medical students. Also, healthcare facilities should have regular staff training to appreciate cultural competency. Lastly, the government should enact legislation to make offering culturally appropriate services mandatory.