Cultural Competence in Nursing Practice - Essay Example

"Cultural Competence in Nursing Practice" is a wonderful example of a paper on care.
Culture poses diverse challenges in the health care industry. This follows the different values and beliefs that different people hold. These aspects affect the way they wish to receive health care, and how they should be treated. Consequently, the following discussion aims at highlighting how different cultures receive care or expects to be treated. It also looks into the ways that nurses can use to provide their culturally diverse patients with better care.

Description of how people of different cultures/ lifestyles want to receive healthcare, providing examples

Different cultures approach health care in a different way. The Russian community believes in an authoritarian system of health care (“Euromed Info”, 2014). This is where the health expert diagnosis the patient, and recommends suitable medication. The patient does not get to interact with the expert in discussing their health condition, or any other measures that may be of importance. Consequently, the patients follow the instructions of the medical practitioners as prescribed. On the other hand, most Americans maintain a social relationship with medical practitioners. They probe about their health condition by asking as many questions as possible to the health experts. Consequent to this, Russians expect the health experts to attend to them in the absence of an open discussion, compared to Americans who prefer an open discussion.

Description of the perception of how people from another culture, lifestyle are treated when receiving healthcare, providing examples.

Most people perceive Africans as people who treat mental illnesses without any secrecy. People with such illnesses access health care, without having to hide from the public. This perception is debatable because health practitioners strive to maintain the confidentiality of their patients. According to the Chinese culture, any illness that indicates that the patient is not in full control of their senses is characterized by bringing shame unto the family (“Euromed Info”, 2014). Consequently, the Chinese deal with mental illnesses in a very reluctant manner. They prefer keeping the illness a secret, or ensuring that the patient is handled in a private way to avoid shame in the community. Consequent to this, the Chinese prefer to be treated with utmost secrecy concerning mental illness.

Description of how nurses can provide culturally appropriate care for patients from another culture/lifestyle, providing examples

Nurses play a critical role in providing care to patients, especially those from a different culture from their native culture. Therefore, nurses ought to undertake courses that enlighten them on the diversity created by different cultures. The courses help in improving their cultural awareness and make them sensitive to different cultural groups (Tuohy, McCarthy, Cassidy, & Graham, 2008). The courses also allow them to learn how to handle different people, instead of using a universal approach to health care. This results in the individualization of each patient, thus increasing the safety of the patient.

Description of important information for nurses to know when taking care of people from other cultural/ lifestyle, providing examples

Patients need to be treated in a culturally secure environment. Therefore, nurses have the responsibility of respecting the different cultures of their patients. They should strive to provide care in accordance with their respective culture. This promotes the trust that the patients have in the nurses, leading to better care. More to this, the nurse gets to overcome any barriers that may hinder the patient from receiving quality care, hence fulfilling the ethics of beneficence.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I believe that nurses can meet the health care needs of another culture. They ought to take up courses that can expose them to different cultures in the world. They should also have the capacity to individualize every patient they deal with, thus promoting their ability to provide better health care.