Question

A nurse-manager is in charge of a unit that serves an ethnically diverse community. As well, many of the staff members of the unit were born in, or educated in, other countries. What is an appropriate action by the manager to address this situation?

1) Adjust the patient classification system (PCS) that is used on the unit.
2) Assign a preceptor to each staff member who is from another country.
3) Arrange continuing education on managing communication challenges.
4) Advocate for centralized staffing so the manager can control the cultural staff mix.

Answer 1

The nurse-manager should arrange for continuing education focused on managing communication challenges, which includes diversity training and understanding cultural differences to promote culturally competent care and improve patient outcomes in a diverse environment.

Step-by-step explanation:

An appropriate action for a nurse-manager in charge of a unit serving an ethnically diverse community with staff members from various cultural backgrounds would be to arrange continuing education on managing communication challenges. This can include diversity training that educates participants about cultural differences, aiming at improving teamwork and reducing potential prejudice. Such an initiative would support the healthcare staff in providing culturally competent care, thus enhancing patient outcomes and promoting a healthy workplace environment. Additionally, engaging in community-based participatory action research (CPAR) and using mixed-method approaches can be beneficial in addressing and attempting to eliminate health disparities by including a broad range of cultural perspectives, understanding patient needs, and improving the quality of care for diverse populations.