Diversity In Nursing Essay

Just as there is diversity among our patients and the population we serve, there is also diversity among staff nurses. Thus, as a nurse manager, it can sometimes be a challenge to deal with different cultures and various beliefs when planning and implementing unit- and hospital-based initiatives. Nonetheless, it is essential that diversity in the workforce reflect the diversity of the patient population. The quality of care provided is enhanced when nurses are inclined to promoting a culturally sensitive plan of care (Yoder-Wise, 2011, pp. 158-160). Moreover, a mutually trusting patient-nurse relationship is easier to achieve when there is a common ground between nurse and patient. For example, in our unit, we provide care to several African-American

The nurse manager must be culturally sensitive, open-minded, and flexible. According to Yoder-Wise (2011), one way for nurse managers to raise awareness is “to have two or three staff members of different ethnic origins present a patient-care conference, giving their views on how they would care for a specific patient’s needs based on their own ethnic values” (p. 169). In our unit, we have a widely diverse group consisting of nurses from different cultural backgrounds, which include, African-Americans, Puerto Ricans, Filipinos, Vietnamese, Palestinians, and Indians. Thus, a fun and engaging activity, which we regularly organize, is a cultural night, where everyone brings a traditional dish and shares unique information about one’s culture. According to Walden (2013), “an environment of respect, inclusion, and acceptance is a key component in establishing and maintaining a diverse workforce” (p. 4). Therefore, nurse managers must promote a working environment that embodies these values. Some methods to ensure such setting include celebrating diversity by supporting programs that address a variety of cultural issues, meeting the special cultural needs of the staff, and committing to a lifetime of learning about the different cultures (Yoder-Wise, 2011, pp.