Open attitude and cultural competence
Apart from promoting the culture of learning and enhancing patient-nurse understanding, an open attitude plays a crucial role in the efficiency of care delivery. Being able to relate well with patients and colleagues of diverse backgrounds without being judgmental provides a respectful work environment with the care facility, enhancing care delivery. This is because the trait allows one to understand how the patient and fellow caregivers perceive specific issues and collectively agree on how to solve them (Henderson et al., 2018). This, therefore, leads to competent care provision, and patient satisfaction is guaranteed.
Relevance of an open attitude
Competence in nursing entails adopting a culture that enhances adequate, timely, and effective care. The aspect of having an open attitude demonstrates competence. It acknowledges diversity by ensuring that the caregiver has a positive and caring attitude to all patients regardless of their cultural, political, social, economic, and religious diversities. The care delivery process is enhanced as the medical workers will be nursing the patients compassionately with love and concern (Henderson et al., 2018). Competence and sensitivity of diversities in care delivery are also demonstrated through communication and interactions between the caregivers, the patient, the patient’s family members, and other care providers. An open attitude enhances respectful relationships, communications, and interactions during nursing care.
An open attitude is also relevant in demonstrating cultural competence and sensitivity as it ensures accountability in care provision. As the nurse provides care, they keep in mind that the patient and their families are of different cultures that should be acknowledged and served. The caregiver develops a sense of obligation in his duties (Sharifi et al., 2019). They appreciate that there is a need to treat every patient and family equally despite their cultural differences. In case of any faulty doing, negligence and partiality in care provision, the culture of open attitude emphasizes the concept of taking responsibility and accepting the consequences.
Emerging trends
In the recent efforts to enhance cultural competence, new trends have emerged. In the present society and health sector, diversity has been highly valued. Policies that protect diversity have been formulated and implemented. The healthcare sector has enhanced recruiting and retaining the minority in the care sector (Biles, 2020). Education on cultural concepts has been enhanced by incorporating cultural studies in the curriculum and through conferences. An Enhanced consciousness of the dynamics of patients aids in disregarding stereotypes and promoting cultural etiquette.
Understanding the patient’s culture
In planning culturally competent care, the nurse should have a detailed understanding of the patient’s cultural background. Aspects of religion, ethnicity, spiritual beliefs, sexual orientations, and cultural beliefs should be well captured. This can be done by taking a detailed history (Biles, 2020). The nurses should create a good rapport with the patient so as to receive honest answers from the patient on all aspects. On issues that do not compromise patient confidentiality, the care provider can seek clarification from the family.
Recommendations
Culturally competent nursing practice is a critical aspect of nursing care delivery. A well-developed culture will ensure improved care outcomes, patient satisfaction and self-competence for the nurses. To promote and develop a culturally competent practice, the nurses should always do a self-assessment and be fully aware of who they are in all spheres of life and cultural practices. Understanding oneself will facilitate appreciating yourself to study others and respect the diversity between yourself and them (Jager et al., 2021). Seeking knowledge of other cultures is also important as it provides information on the culture, its strengths and weaknesses (Biles, 2020) Understanding the culture will enable the caregiver to respect it and treat its people equally. Any disparities in care provision and mismanagement of a patient based on cultural differences should be reported and punished.
References
Biles, J. (2020). Cultural competence in healthcare: Our learning from 2017-2020 will shape our future. Australian Nursing and Midwifery Journal, 26(11), 20-25.
Henderson, S., Horne, M., Hills, R., & Kendall, E. (2018). Cultural competence in healthcare in the community: A concept analysis. Health & Social Care in the Community, 26(4), 590-603. Web.
Jager, M., den Boeft, A., Versteeg-Pieterse, A., Leij-Halfwerk, S., Pelgrim, T., van der Sande, R., & van den Muijsenbergh, M. (2021). Observing cultural competence of healthcare professionals: A systematic review of observational assessment instruments. Patient Education and Counseling, 104(4), 750-759. Web.
Sharifi, N., Adib-Hajbaghery, M., & Najafi, M. (2019). Cultural competence in nursing: A concept analysis. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 99, 103386. Web.