Introduction
It is critical to comprehend that being culturally proficient is fluid and ongoing. Humans require to adapt to the ever-transforming populace as it transitions. According to the statistical data, in the United States, there is an increasing issue of healthcare disparities (Kersey-Matusiak, 2018). However, the problem can be solved by constructing cultural competency among the workforce. Notably, nurses with a significant understanding of the victim’s beliefs and values can enhance prevention and allow standard treatment. The nurses should know that their interaction with patients is traditional to realize the essentiality of cultural diversity. The paper will explain the six major steps of the staircase self-assessment approach, which help inclusivity in healthcare’s diverse populace.
Staircase Self-Assessment Model
Significantly, the cultural destructiveness is related to bad motives integrated with an inspiration to dismantle other traditions. At the same time, it is defined through inherently negative attitudes, policies, practices, and structures by one culture against another. On the other hand, cultural incapacity is the organization’s interest absence to acknowledge or respond to the demands of a diverse group of individuals (Bennett et al., 2019). For instance, the entities may not meet the bilingual needs of the staff members or patients or embrace systematic bias that engenders recruitment discrimination, thus inclining favoritism away from a certain culture.
Furthermore, cultural blindness refers to a feasible philosophy of being unbiased with a robust belief that there is no basic application of cultural diversity and that individuals must be treated and regarded as similar. The organization embeds thorough assimilation, and all the patients are treated alike while ignoring their cultural backgrounds. There is discounting of cultural prowess as the cultural resource development promoting traditional competence or linguistics has no value (Kersey-Matusiak, 2018). The commencement level of awareness within an organization or oneself is known as cultural pre-competence. There is insightful recognition of cultural competency weaknesses and adoption of corrective action (Think Cultural Health, n.d). Nevertheless, organizations and people in this continuum have no good ways to move forward as they regress due to a lack of knowledge.
Cultural competence manifests when individuals perceive their institution and work as an interactive system, prompting them to establish pragmatic impact. Substantially, there is thorough respect, embracement, and acceptance of the cultural discrepancies. The healthcare entity setting massively recognizes and values cultural diversity and linguistics. The execution of integral policies and procedures serves as a crucial phase that organizations should foster and appreciate as they embrace cultural competence (Think Cultural Health, 2019). There is a need to comprehend the utilization of an evidence-based practice approach that accommodates cultural diversity in workers while concentrating on victim care.
Finally, the final continuum is cultural proficiency, which refers to a lifelong learning objective commitment for an individual to be diverse. There should be a consistent understanding of cultural diversity. To a greater extent, the healthcare organizations and the workforce hold cultural discrepancies in high esteem and utilize them as the foundation for enhancement. In behavioral and physical health, the holistic care methodologies, philosophy, and interventions are fostered in an inclusive surrounding while being sensitive to cultural values and beliefs (Bennett et al., 2019). Mentoring and supporting other entities can trigger the establishment and maintenance of self-proficiency.
Question Responses
Step 1
Becoming Culturally Competent
As an individual and a nurse, one of the crucial things I significantly strive for is being culturally competent. Even though I am a US citizen, I come to the country as a young Thai immigrant. Since I am a minority member, I have learned firsthand how challenging it is for disadvantaged communities to thrive in an environment whereby individuals are culturally blind. I have learned to respect and accept other cultural discrepancies to impact society positively.
My Actions
In all the hospitals and the places, I have relocated to across America, I have utilized my time to ensure that I comprehend the populace, the language communicated, and their cultural norms. I hold a positive attitude to ensure that I listen to the clients’ views, no matter their cultural background, without undermining their beliefs and values.
Step 2
Cultural Heritage Knowledge
To a greater extent, since my parents reside in Thailand and have lived in the nation for approximately thirteen years, I have encountered the practices and traditions that are highly exceptional to the Southern Asian heritage. My mother is a Thai, while my father is an American native. Being a product of multiracial individuals, as a nurse, I embrace healthcare practices and beliefs that I should respect every client I treat and learn and listen to their viewpoints.
Issue Discussion
Significantly, both sides of my relatives, including aunts, uncles, and cousins, frequently ask me for medical advice. I try to mentor and support them to understand the essentiality of self-proficiency and learn to embrace cultural discrepancies to promote growth. My Thai family side has deeper comprehension of the holistic approach, while the American side understands the science of nursing better. In my household, the issue of racial identity and cultural heritage is commonly discussed.
Step 3
Cultural Groups
Substantially, I am fascinated by individuals who challenge me to be diverse, and I try as much as possible to avoid cultural destructiveness. I have met multiple people from different backgrounds. The US’s army populace is highly diverse, and the workforce is highly willing to share their culture. As a nurse, I know what people value, what they disregard, and the language they converse using.
Step 4
Social Network
I have traveled and relocated to many regions as a military nurse. I have lived in Germany, Korea, the Pacific Northwest, California, and various areas across the US for three years. I have met people from different countries with unique cultures away from mine. In addition, I communicate with my friends and my Thai family, and both my Twitter and Facebook pages have individuals with diverse languages.
Outside Encounters
Due to the constant relocations, I have had several encounters with culturally diverse people outside my social network. I have lived with neighbors practicing different cultures and with unique bilinguals. I face travel agents who sign my documents and others who do not practice my traditions.
Social Contact
One of my key weaknesses is making social contacts beyond the workplace and not only hanging with close people I know. However, even though I rhyme adequately with individuals I meet, the frequent movements deter me from retaining acquittances. Nevertheless, I will continue meeting and engaging with different people and learning from them.
Step 5
Cultural Conflict Identification
Different people may have outstanding disputes, which to me might be unfamiliar. As a result, I cannot say that I am always capable of pinpointing conflicts, but overall, I can. To a greater extent, I am surprised by any impending conflicts as I comprehend that being culturally competent mandates extensive commitment to learning what other traditions undertake.
Mentorship
As a nurse with extensive expertise in the nursing field, I strive to act as a role model to many young medics who are new in the discipline. I embrace mentoring the new generation of the healthcare workforce to enhance my cultural proficiency. I do so without any favoritism and discrimination based on cultural discrepancies.
Step 6
Problem-Solving Strategies
Notably, I have not drafted any issue resolution techniques to control the arising cultural problems. However, I have assisted other people facing cultural disputes in the past by deploying effective communication and active listening.
Resolving Cultural Conflicts
I have a high capability of managing the arising cultural issues. I provide online multicultural training tutorials, engaging infographics, and other information and education materials to make people develop open communication and active listening while I solve the problems.
Self-reflection
Self-knowledge and Understanding
The comprehension and self-knowledge enable self-assessment and learning to accept the discrepancies among people and embrace respect and acceptance. When one lacks the know-how of what is broken, they cannot develop the corrective actions.
Cultural Self-Assessment Impact on My Awareness
I strongly feel that the exercise has served as an amazing tool in the continued demand for self-exploration in the sustenance of cultural competence. I have developed an increased awareness of developing positive attitudes and acknowledging other people’s values, treating them nicely without discrimination.
Interactions Change
Significantly, I believe in undertaking a quiet ego, whereby my self-identity links with a balanced and minimal stance and transcends self-interests towards others, including clients and family members. In that case, my self-reflection is ongoing even though I have developed a strong willingness to transform as a nurse. The exercise has provided me with ample room for growth and learning.
Conclusion
In the healthcare setting, nurses should understand that there is much patient information. Being culturally competent as a healthcare provider can ensure saving clients’ lives. Extensively comprehending culture mandates embracing components of facial expression and behavioral and religious beliefs. Competence acquisition requires constant development of courage to realize that learning and growth are ongoing processes, and no one has a general understanding of them as it requires persistence.
References
Bennett, C., Hamilton, E. K., & Rochani, H. (2019). Exploring race in nursing: Teaching nursing students about racial inequality using the historical lens. The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 24(2), 21-43. Web.
Kersey-Matusiak, G. (2018). Delivering culturally competent nursing care: Working with diverse and vulnerable populations (2nd Ed.). Springer.
Think Cultural Health. (2019). Why culturally and linguistically appropriate services (CLAS) matter [Video]. YouTube. Web.
Think Cultural Health. (n.d). What is culturally competent nursing care: A cornerstone of caring? Web.