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
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
This paper examines education as a change agent for cultural awareness and collective need. It discusses educational theories of multicultural education and the characteristics of a culturally sensitive curriculum. It then looks at the role of teachers in imparting the culturally sensitive curriculum. The paper focuses on Pablo Freire's work, "Pedagogy of the Oppressed."

Table of Contents:
Review of Literature
Characteristics of Culturally Sensitive Curriculum
Characteristics of Culturally Sensitive Teachers

From the Paper
"As the diversity in the US grows, there must be debates about the nature of the reflection of curriculum on a changing population. Through this work it has been made clear that immigrants often feel disconnected from the education of their children, especially when language barriers are an issue. The work of the educator, regardless of the answer tot eh debate is to develop core communications with these parents so as to better teach children their role in a foreign social and cultural environment. Regardless of the level of acceptance of a multicultural classroom within a school or district, no children or parent should feel rejected by it. Debates may not seem like a politically correct way to develop such relationships, but they can be a starting point for opening up a line of communication that further develops the child's feelings of cultural pride and personal self esteem, two issues that are crucial to long term success and civic responsibility and in many ways must be imparted by the culturally sensitive teacher."

Tags:student, classroom, multiculturalism

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
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
This paper explains that experts in education talk about "cultural competence" or the need for teachers to understand the cultures their own culture and the culture from which their students come especially because the student population is becoming more and more culturally varied and the number of teachers not from the majority culture (American of European descent) is decreasing. The paper stresses that commonly grouping students together, such as Hispanic or Native American, suggesting they have more similarities than they really do, can lead to stereotyping and problems in the classroom. The paper explains that differences between the dominant culture and subcultures can extend beyond grade school into college such as the problem of timelessness among some Native American cultures, which is in conflict with the concept of "cause and effect" in Western (European-influenced) thought.

From the Paper
"For instance, we talk about "Hispanics," but often we do so without thinking about who these "Hispanics" are. People classified as Hispanic have lived within the present day borders of the United States for centuries. While many think of Hispanics as recent immigrants from Mexico, some have been here for generations. People classified as Hispanic have also come here from Puerto Rico, Cuba, Spain, and many countries in Central and South America. It is not a homogenous group, so as a classroom teacher it will not be enough to know that a child is "Hispanic". That won't tell me much more about the child than the fact that another child might have red, curly hair."

Tags:non-homogenous, stereotyping, conflict, origin, specific

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

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
The paper discusses how according to Mercer (1995), the process of becoming a mother is becoming increasingly complex with fewer role models. The paper explains that childbirth involves a transition to a new identity and uncertainty that compels women to seek information and help. The paper looks at how Mercer maintains that the mother's experience during childbirth depends on her self-concept, and her perceived control over the process of birth. The paper then explains that maternal control, as is illustrated by many cultures, is restricted by cultural norms, ideology and other factors.

From the Paper
"According to Mercer (1995), the process of becoming a mother is becoming increasingly complex with fewer role models. Childbirth involves a transition to a new identity and uncertainty that compels women to seek information and help. Mercer maintains that birth is a formal entry into motherhood and the mother's experience during childbirth depends on her self-concept, and her perceived control over the process of birth. Maternal control as is illustrated by many cultures is restricted by cultural norms, ideology, and other factors. This paper will discuss a..."

Tags:culture, childbirth, needs