Becoming more multinational, the population of many countries needs an adequate culture-based, patient-centered approach to medical care. Cultural competence in nursing is necessary nowadays, as it implies more than just sensitivity or knowledge of cultures. It is a whole practice of values and attitudes aimed at optimizing the medical care of patients from different cultures. To establish contact, effective interaction, and trust between the medical staff and the patient, it is vital to use cultural sensitivity, which is based on recognizing the unique cultural identity of each client. Thus, the transcultural approach in nursing improves the quality of services provided and promotes more effective treatment due to the established contact and trust between the patient and the medical worker.
Working in a rural hospital that serves a wide variety of patients, it is essential to be prepared for several difficulties. One of the most difficult to overcome barriers in doctor-patient communication is the language barrier. Sometimes, even if the patient/doctor, being a foreigner, knows the interlocutor’s language at the spoken level, problems can arise. When “the doctor uses a term, ” and the patient is unfamiliar with it or in his language, it has an entirely different meaning. (Giger & Haddad, 2021, p. 26) If the language barrier cannot be overcome, it is possible to express yourself using gestures or drawings on paper or resort to the services of an interpreter.
The cultural barrier must also always be considered when treating a patient. Representatives of different nationalities have a different mentality, temperament, national character, and all this must be remembered. Moreover, the gender barrier interferes with the effective interaction between the doctor and the patient; since one of the primary diagnostic methods is palpation, percussion, or examination (Giddens, 2021). Some patients may feel uncomfortable and would prefer to be examined by people of the same gender. This is due to a misunderstanding of religious principles that limit contact between a man and a woman (Oregon Center of Nursing, 2021). When working with a patient, the doctor must consider a combination of factors; otherwise, the patient will not be given proper treatment and attention. The life and health of the patient often depend on how the doctor will establish contact and communicate, that is why the cultural competence in medicine is so important.
References
Giddens, J. F. (2021). Concepts for nursing practice (3rd ed.) Elsevier.
Giger, J. N. & Haddad, L. (2021). Transcultural nursing (8th ed.). Moby.
Oregon Center of Nursing. (2021). Nurturing cultural competence in nursing: promising practices for education and healthcare. YouTube.