Intro Cultural Competence

 Cultural competency in the context of the healthcare setting can be defined as "...delivering effective, quality care to patients who have diverse beliefs, attitudes, values, and behaviors" (Tulane University). Cultural competency is a vital part of providing health care services for many reasons. Firstly, with the United States becoming more racially, culturally, and linguistically diverse with time, cultural competency needs to be taught. Another reason is the comfort level of the patient. If a patient does not feel that the health professional(s) are culturally aware or understanding, then they are less likely to trust them and follow through with the proper treatment that they may need. This lack of trust can lead to desperate people seeking alternative solutions that may not be in their best interest. A lack of cultural competency can also lead to poor communication or misunderstandings between the patient and the healthcare provider.  

Here of some YouTube videos on cultural competence in healthcare that I found interesting: 

https://youtu.be/L_9R_MtZ6bA?si=Ic7JxAjxVup28y2y

Becoming a Culturally Competent Nurse (youtube.com)

Sources:

Rose, P. R. (2013). Cultural competency for the Health Professional. Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine . (2021, March 1). How to Improve Cultural Competence in Health Care. School of Public Health. https://publichealth.tulane.edu/blog/cultural-competence-in-health-care/