Cultural Competence Essay -- essays research papers

The American Academy of Family Physicians website defines ethnic competency as A set of congruent behaviors, attitudes and policies that come together as a system, room or among professionals and enable that system, agency or those professionals to work effectively in cross-ethnical situations. The word "culture" is used because it implies the integrated pattern of tender-hearted thoughts, communications, actions, customs, beliefs, values and institutions of a racial, ethnic, religious or social throng. The word competence is used because it implies having a capacity to function effectively.Campinha-Bacote constructed a model that depicts cultural competence into fivesome contrary areas cultural aware(predicate)ness, cultural knowledge, cultural attainment, cultural encounter, and cultural desire. When working as a healthcare professional, cardinal involve to strive for cultural competence by mastering separately of these areas.     To puzzle my journey on mastering each area of cultural competence, I expect to first assess my placement in each of the five categories. A very important area is cultural awareness. This involves conducting self-examination of all biases that I may bear towards a certain culture. I am guilty of having such biases. While I do not bind many biases, it is important that I work through each one and realize that biases are not facts. I am a flannel female who grew up in the suburbs of Detroit. I attended a common soldier school from kindergarten until my sopho more year of college. My school was not very diverse. at once I started working, I was able to meet a some more plurality of disparate cultures. All of my professions have been in the suburbs, and the majority of people have been Caucasian. Eastern Michigan University is very diverse. I am sword lily that I am finally able to experience such an environment.       pagan knowledge is when a health care professio nal seeks information regarding different cultures and ethnic groups. They look at the differences that one culture/ethnic group may have regarding treatment of an illness, health conditions, and biological variations. I have yet to do any personal research in this area. I have learned about some of these differences in a few of the nursing classes this past year and a half. I know that this is a detrimental area of nursing, especially since our country is becom... ...nts who have been of a different culture and I am go outing to care for many more. By reviewing my position in each of the areas in the model, I realize that I do not yet fit into the expectations. I recall that I am on my way to achieving cultural competence. I still need to work on cultural awareness. I need to conduct a further self-examination to be sure I understand each of my biases. I need to start researching to make better my cultural knowledge. My cultural skill needs to improve in the aspect of becoming more agreeable in conducting a cultural assessment. I engage in conversations, and in friendships with people of other culture (cultural encounter) and enjoy becoming culturally aware and knowledgeable (cultural desire). This guide is very appropriate for the nursing field. I believe that I am culturally competent enough to work in a health care profession. I pull up stakes continue to improve in each category. Everyday is a new day. I will be exposed to people of many backgrounds. I need to be ready and willing to adapt so that each person will feel equally comfortable and will receive equivalent healthcare.http//www.aafp.org/fpm/20001000/58cult.html2 October 6, 2004