Persepctives of Registered Nurse Cultural Competence in a Rural State--Part I

Abstract

Inferences have been made from recent research that there is a correlation between lack of cultural competence and the incidence of health disparity. As our society becomes more global and more diverse, it is apparent that culture can no longer be considered as solely associated with ethnic/racial/cultural groups. Nurses permeate all areas of health care and are therefore in a position to have positive impact on cultural competency. This paper describes the 5 constructs of cultural competence as described by Dr. Josepha Campinha-Bacote: cultural awareness, cultural knowledge, cultural skill, cultural encounters, and cultural desire. She emphasizes, as do others in the literature, that cultural desire and awareness are antecedents to knowledge acquisition and skill. Is mere cultural awareness enough? How do healthcare providers in homogenous rural states attain cultural competence when cultural encounters and cultural knowledge may not be readily accessible? This is the first in a series of two articles which explores Cultural Competence of health care providers in a rural state. The first article in the series provides literature review and definitions related to cultural competence as well as the impact of cultural competence. The second article reveal results of a cultural competence self-assessment survey of registered nurses in North Dakota, a sprawling rural state described as 9th in the union for percentage of caucasions and 5th in rank for the most American Indians.