Question

The nurse is attempting to deliver culturally competent care to a patient from an unusual culture the nurse has never encountered before. The patient is becoming irritated. What actions might be causing barriers to cultural competence?

A) Planning care according to the nurse's textbook
B) Showing distaste when the patient explains her diet
C) Applying what was learned on the Internet into the plan of care
D) Asking the patient about their beliefs and customs
E) Helping the patient choose food for tomorrow's meal

Answer 1

Cultural competence barriers in healthcare can arise from using textbook knowledge without cultural context, showing distaste for a patient's cultural practices, or applying generic internet information. Actions that demonstrate cultural competence include engaging the patient in discussions about their beliefs and helping them make culturally appropriate food choices.

Step-by-step explanation:

The actions that might be causing barriers to cultural competence in the scenario where a nurse attempts to deliver care to a patient from an unfamiliar culture are likely those that disregard the patient's cultural perspectives or impose the nurse's own cultural standards. Actions that can cause such barriers include planning care based solely on the nurse's textbook knowledge without considering the patient's cultural needs (A), showing distaste when the patient explains their diet (B), and applying generic information found on the Internet to the patient's care plan without verifying its cultural appropriateness (C).

Contrastingly, asking the patient about their beliefs and customs (D) is an action conducive to cultural competence as it shows respect for the patient's cultural identity and potentially provides insights into how to deliver effective care. Similarly, helping the patient choose food for their meals (E) can promote cultural competence if the choices reflect the patient's dietary preferences and restrictions based on their cultural background.

Health professionals must strive to provide care that respects and addresses the diverse cultural identities of their patients, which is essential in the prevention and treatment of diseases like HIV, as well as in situations where adaptation to new cultural settings, such as a hospital's culture, is required.