Abstract
The paper relates that culturally competent care in the health workplace setting of a hospital involves the provision of effective and timely care that is sensitive to the ethnocultural needs of the client or patient. The paper discusses how culturally competent care has been a public health concern that has only recently seen some, if little progress. The paper asserts that only one factor in the demand for this has been addressed, namely hospitals, health care organizations and physicians, and directly working with these people in a transcultural context is also relatively inadequately addressed. The paper contends that the perceived benefits of culturally competent care encompass increased effectiveness of disease prevention, maternal and child care, among others.

From the Paper
"Culturally competent care in health workplace setting of a hospital involves the provision of effective and timely care that is sensitive to the ethnocultural needs of the client or patient. This type of care, while sensitive to the needs of people with different ethnocultural backgrounds, must not, at the same time, become biased in its provision of care, either by policy, protocol or other barriers that prevent equality in care. This means that, while unique sets of people with diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds have equally unique care needs, this should not be the basis..."

Tags:culturally, competent, care

Abstract
This paper reviews the instruments and tools that can be used to measure delivery of culturally competent/sensitive nursing care. The paper discusses the purpose of cultural competency training to improve the health care of ethnic minorities. The paper also investigates the application of culturally competent nursing to all areas of patient care. The paper concludes with an evaluation of the usefulness, validity and reliability of the instruments and tools.

From the Paper
"Thom reports that cultural competency training is being widely promoted as a means to improve the quality of health care for ethnic minorities. However relatively little..."

Tags:culturally competent nursing care, ethnic

Abstract
The paper relates that the simple truth of the matter is that Canada is changing demographically; it is becoming older - and it is also becoming more diverse. Therefore, the paper discusses how as the decades-long shift in Canada's median and average age, as well the decades-long shift in terms of its ethnic and racial make-up, proceeds at a relentless rate, the need for culturally-competent nursing that accommodates the religious and cultural sensibilities of all Canadians has become increasingly pressing in the last generation or so.

From the Paper
"The topic of this presentation is culturally-competent nursing in a changing world. The simple truth of the matter is that Canada is changing demographically; it is becoming older - and it is also becoming more diverse. Therefore, as the decades-long shift in Canada's median and average age, as well the decades-long shift in terms of its ethnic and racial make-up, proceeds at a relentless rate, the need for culturally-competent nursing that..."

Tags:policy, environment, culturally, competent

Abstract
The paper examines the characteristics of culturally competent care for those in the nursing and other healthcare services professions. The paper looks at its impact on emerging standards of care and shows how there is a general consensus among health care professionals and professional nursing staff as to the primary requirements of delivering culturally competent care. The paper notes that culturally competent care is a developmental process that is ongoing in nature.

Outline:
Objectives
Terms and Definitions
Introduction
United States Department of Justice 'Executive Order' 2000
Goals of Culturally Competent Care
Emerging Standards of Care
Summary and Conclusion

From the Paper
"Guidelines for practicing in a culturally competent manner include the use of an interpreter and stated is that unless one is "thoroughly effective and fluent in the target language" an interpreter should always be used" and as well one of the same sex as the client is desirable. Use of family members as interpreters is not optimal. It is of great assistance for the healthcare professional to "learn basic words and sentences in the target language; to emphasize by repetition and speak slowly, not loudly; to be patient; address the patient direct; provide instructions in LIST format and have patients repeat as understood; uses short questions and comments; use language the interpreter can easily handle avoiding abstractions, idiomatic expressions, similes and metaphors; and to plan what to say ahead of time. (AMSA, 2008)"

Tags:ethnicity, race, diversity, stereotypes

Abstract
The paper presents the definitions of culture and culturally competent care and examines the patient population demographics of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The paper centers on the Hispanic population and their vulnerability and discusses the fourteen standards of cultural competence as identified by the Office of Minority Health (OMH). The paper also evaluates the VHA's performance to meet these standards and looks at the implication for nursing and at potential solutions for areas were standards are not met. The paper concludes that as the healthcare industry moves to a more culturally competent delivery method, healthcare quality and effectiveness will improve.

Outline:
Culture
Population Demographics
Cultural Vulnerability
Standard One
Standard Two
Standard Three
Standard Four
Standard Five
Standard Six
Standard Seven
Standard Eight
Standard Nine
Standard Ten
Standard Eleven
Standard Twelve
Standard Thirteen
Standard Fourteen
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Culture is defined as the incorporated pattern of human behavior that encompasses languages, values, thought, beliefs communication, customs, rituals, practices, relationships, courtesies, role, mannerisms and expected behaviors of an ethnic, social, racial or religious group (Hepburn, 2005). Cultural competence is a set of attitudes, policies, structures, practices and behaviors that collaborate in or between professionals, agencies, or systems that produce an increase in effectiveness to work with cross-cultural situations (Hepburn, 2005). The cultural competence standards used for this paper will be the OMH's National Standards on Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS). The CLAS's primary focus is organizational healthcare application and is designed to encourage the evaluation and development of culturally and linguistically congruent care (Office of Minority Health [OMH], 2007)."

Tags:Hispanics, minorities, diversity, sensitivity, interpretation

Abstract
This paper discusses the current trend in health care to establish systems that are open and receptive to cultural diversity. It mentions the list of fourteen standards, by the Office of Minority Health, that are either mandated or strongly suggested for designation as a culturally competent provider. The paper focuses on discussing four of these mandates and the three initial standards designated as culturally competent care standards.

From the Paper
"The standards of cultural competency that are met by most hospitals are clearly those that are designated mandates by federal guidelines, (4, 5, 6, 7) which are all focused on linguistic access with reduced emphasis on the social, cultural and religious aspects of diversity of any given population. Hospitals seem to think of cultural competence as a designation of signage and interpretive service access. Though the question of cultural competence is much broader than simply language and on a socio cultural level providers and individuals within the hospital system must not be left guessing and or assuming the cultural issues that might need to be addressed, for any given individual, beyond the linguistics level. Most facilities would benefit form a cultural competency assessment, as noted by Georgetown University's National Center for Cultural Competence, to both determine the needs and identify hidden strengths in a system. (Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development, n.d.)"

Tags:CLAS, diversity, linguistics

Abstract
In this article, the writer discusses the different aspects that comprise a competent teacher, from reaching out for community and parental support to ensuring that the needs of diverse learners are met in the classroom in an egalitarian manner. Techniques such as open classrooms are suggested to help develop greater competency in teachers.

From the Paper
"My idealistic view of teacher competence does encompass an overall theory or philosophy of education. An idealist philosophy of education would call for a highly proactive approach to teaching ensuring that all students receive the same high quality of education and variety of educational opportunities. A realist philosophy would argue that achieving true equality may be impossible but that what is needed is a nationwide effort to reform educational systems and processes to maximize student achievement to the degree possible. Idealism from a philosophical perspective is at times ..."

Tags:education, students, schools, academics, curriculum, development, learning, communication, teaching

Abstract
The paper discusses how culturally competent care in the setting of a hospital involves the provision of effective and timely care that is sensitive to the ethnocultural needs of the client or patient. The paper asserts that this type of care, while sensitive to the needs of people with different ethnocultural backgrounds, must not, at the same time, become biased in its provision of care, either by policy, protocol or other barriers that prevent equality in care. The paper explains that this means that, while unique sets of people with diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds have equally unique care needs, this should not be the basis for justifications of providers to relegate culturally-sensitive initiatives to lesser priority over others.

Tags:discourse, ethnicity, race

Abstract
The following paper asserts the importance of culturally competent nursing not only on a practical level, but also in a theoretical and philosophical sense of the nursing profession. It suggests that in orienting nurses to a hospital environment, the cultural differences between patients is a critical aspect to be considered when providing nursing care.

From the Paper
First of all, what is meant by culturally competent nursing care? Culturally competent nursing care takes into consideration the different cultural needs of the individual patient. It takes into consideration the culture that exists outside of the hospital as well as the culture that has been created within the hospital to respond to those needs. Ann Tomey s collection of essays on nursing theories suggests that the importance of having a paradigmatic approach to nursing, rather than a mere series of responses on a daily basis gives the nurse a framework to rely upon when making difficult decisions. This is true not only of individual nurses when making decisions, but also of hospital policy as a whole. (Tomey 1998, p.5)One such framework provided for a philosophical analysis of the needs of nursing is provided in Jacqueline s Fawcett's book on the subject. Fawcett has developed a model of nursing that links the profession s responsibilities into four distinct areas she divides into person, environment, health, as well as the actual procedures of nursing itself. Fawcett s framework is uniquely helpful to a culturally competent form of nursing practice because it forces practitioners not simply to look at the body of the patient in a generic fashion, but to locate the body in a particular cultural world.

Tags:healthcare

Abstract
This paper critically analyzes the research methods used by Warda in her article about what makes up culturally competent care as it relates to Mexican-Americans. It explains how Warda advances the idea that there are four main areas of cultural care that relate to the Mexican-American community and how well they are served by health care professionals. The writer states that these are family, spirituality, communication, and health beliefs and practices. It discusses how, specifically, in consideration of these four areas of cultural care, Warda's research seeks to answer just what traits, beliefs, and practices in the four areas exert the greatest influence on the health care of Mexican-Americans.

From the Paper
"If one of the most important goals of any health care provider is providing the best quality of care possible for one's patients, then the health care researcher is no less responsible for ensuring their work is of the best possible integrity. To insure this, the health care researcher must follow stringent protocols in gathering and presenting their information, as well as in extrapolating meaning from that information. Indeed, it is of significant consequence if published mainstream research is competently preformed in all of its aspects. Not only does this insure researcher, institution, and publication credibility, but it insures that the actual "field" application of the conclusions drawn from research work are beneficial to patient care."

Tags:belief, practice, health, family, spiritual, communication