I believe cultural competence refers to one’s understanding of their own culture. Culture influences how children are reared, how families communicate, what is deemed normal or abnormal, how we deal with problems, how we dress, when and where we seek medical treatment, and so on. According to researchers, this field correlates with a reduction in disparities (Greene-Moton & Minkler, 2019). Thus, it is an essential aspect that an educator has to consider when breaking barriers and creating a safe and comfortable environment.
Cultural competence is significant for a variety of reasons. For starters, it can aid in the development of culturally sensitive practices, which can then aid in the reduction of barriers to treatment in health care settings. Second, it can aid in developing understanding, which is important in building competence to assess who the person is. To discuss cultural differences, we need new advancements in service delivery.
Last but not least, as managed care procedures extend into the public division through programs like Medicare, the need to find an appropriate abstract framework to guide service plans and delivery becomes even clearer. We require a certain amount of expertise, knowledge, and traits to acquire cultural competency. When I say expertise, I’m talking about professional abilities such as the ability to transmit accurate information to culturally diverse people and communities, freely debate racial and ethnic concerns, and respond to culturally-based cues.
Moreover, and the ability to comprehend the significance of traditions/culture for each individual, interviewing abilities that aid in understanding and accommodating the importance of language in a person’s culture, as well as the ability to apply the concept of empowerment to culturally diverse people and communities also correlate with such expertise. Cultural competence correlates with cultural safety, which is an essential factor in building empowerment and reassuring an individual that their values are being considered and acknowledged (Sharifi, Adib-Hajbaghery, & Najafi, 2019).
Knowing a person’s cultural history, values, and traditions; the impact of racism or poverty on behavior; the role of communication in different communities; knowledge of resources such as aid agencies; and how professional values may agree with or disagree with the needs of clients from various cultures are all examples of knowledge. Finally, our acceptance of cultural differences is referred to as characteristics.
References
Greene-Moton, E., & Minkler, M. (2019). Cultural competence or cultural humility? Moving beyond the debate. Health Promotion Practice, 21(1), 142-145. Web.
Sharifi, N., Adib-Hajbaghery, M., & Najafi, M. (2019). Cultural competence in nursing: A concept analysis. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 99, 103386. Web.