The Importance Of Cultural Diversity In Nursing

Fall 2016 week one discussion board initial post

For this discussion board post I will be defining several terms that are related to cultural diversity and the influence it has on nursing practice. These terms include: cultural baggage, ethnocentrism, cultural imposition, prejudice, discrimination, and cultural congruence. Then I will explain the importance of cultural self-assessment as well as define it. Finally, I will describe the five step process in giving nursing care that is culturally congruent.

Cultural baggage is a lack of self-awareness of how one’s culture can impact one’s thoughts, perceptions and sometimes actions. For instance, having preconceived ideas about a patient you are meeting for the first time based on their culture.

Within the United States there are many cultures present. Nurses should be careful in not imposing their culture on their patients, but rather be respectful to their patient’s cultures and beliefs regardless of their personal beliefs. An example from my practice is circumcisions. Some cultures do not do circumcisions. If a nurse believes all males should be circumcised, she should not push that belief onto someone who does not.

Prejudice is an opinion one can have with no evidence, experience, thought, or information. Often times prejudice is referred to as having a negative opinion, however it could be referring to as having a positive opinion. An example of prejudice in my practice could be a nurse giving substandard or less than their normal care to homosexual patients due to their prejudice. This type of prejudice could result in the needs of the patient not being met (Hammond, 2014). Another example of this same type of prejudice would be for a nurse to refuse to care for a patient that is

These five steps are: 1. Nurse to have a critical self-assessment of their own knowledge, attitudes, and skills. The nurse should also obtain a cultural assessment of the patient’s background. The nurse can use subjective and objective findings by both a physical exam and health history. 2. The nurse should set goals that have been collaborated on with the patient, nurse, family, and other health care team members. 3. The nurse then should develop a plan of care. 4. Following the development of the plan of care, it now should be implemented. 5. Finally the evaluation of the plan of care should be done. A key piece to the five step process is including the patient, health care team members as well as the family when establishing a plan of care to be implemented (Andrews,