Cultural competence is quite ambiguous term as it is defined differently in various sources. It is connected with increased diversity and globalization, which led to extensive cultural exchange and the necessity to be competent with multiple cultures. Some researchers pay more attention to the “cultural” part of the phrase, and some to the “competence,” thus understanding it differently (Sharifi et al., 2019). In my opinion, both parts of the phrase are equally essential and should be treated only as a whole.
Cultural competence means understanding people from other cultures, but it extends beyond this. It can be defined as “the dynamic and evolutionary process of acquiring the ability to provide effective, safe, and quality care to individuals from different cultures, along with considering the different aspects of their cultures” (Sharifi et al., 2019, p. 6). Thus, it is the process of understanding other people and communicating with them more efficiently. I think that the humanistic view is the foremost in cultural competence: it ensures that one can treat other people with understanding and constructiveness.
I think that cultural competence is important as it helps understand other people better, which is crucial for the healthcare sector. I would use the gained knowledge about various cultures’ sensitivity to different events and conditions in my nursing work. For example, according to the research of Sharifi et al. (2019), Kurdish people feel much better if their nurses or doctors are of the same gender as they are. My goal would be to ensure that:
- People of other cultures can be understood easily, even if they do not know English well;
- I can see and meet their needs and am ready to call another nurse who, as I know, is more competent with people with this cultural background.
In that way, I will know that all my patients will be as happy and satisfied as possible while my level of cultural competence will grow.
Reference
Sharifi, N., Adib-Hajbaghery, M., & Najafi, M. (2019). Cultural competence in nursing: A concept analysis. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 99, 103386. Web.