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by Dawn M. Bowker, PhD, ARNP-BC, CNE
America is changing and we are experiencing more diversity than ever before. With this diversity, we are creating mosaic of cultures that add a richness to our communities however; it can also create challenges in providing culturally appropriate care to patients. To achieve the best outcomes, we must respect the fact that our patient’s culture shapes their concept of health, illness, and health practices. To be an effective partner in their health journey, we need employ cultural humility and be cognizant of our own ethnocentrism.
As nurses care for patients and families with diverse backgrounds, preferences, and cultures, we experience cross-cultural experiences. Culture influences people’s health status and it shapes our concept of health, illness, and health practices. Impact of and meaning ascribed to an illness by a patient could be in conflict with the meaning ascribed to the illness by the nurse. This difference can result in a cultural misunderstanding that can negatively impact the health outcome for the patient.
Nurses need to develop cultural humility so they can bridge the gap between the patient and the health care system. Cultural humility is recognizing and being cognizant of ethnocentrism so we do not make false assumptions. A nurse who possesses cultural humility recognizes the limitations of their cultural perspective and works towards overcoming their perspective in order to provide better nursing care to all patients. Cultural humility addresses the power imbalance between the nurse and the patient. A nurse who recognizes their own unconscious bias is more likely to maintain an open mind and be respectful of all people and not act as if their way was the only way or the best way to proceed. Cultural humility entails working collaboratively with clients and embracing difference. Cultural humility comes from a position not as experts but from a perspective of learning and understanding. It forces us to step back and realize this person is an expert on their culture, background, and experiences.
The American Nurses Associations (ANA) Code of Ethics states that nurses must practice “with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity, worth, and uniqueness of every individual, unrestricted by considerations of social or economic status, personal attributes, or the nature of health problems (ANA, 2015).”
Cultural humility is a lifelong journey of self-reflection and works in apposition with cultural competence to improve health outcomes and decrease disparities. Cultural humility, along with an understanding of the impact of social determinants of health (SDOH) improve health outcomes and reduce health inequities. SDOH are the conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks. SDOH can be grouped into five domains: economic stability, education access and quality, health care access and quality, neighborhood- built environment, and social and community context (Healthy People 2030). One of Healthy People 2030 overarching goals specifically related to SDOH is to “Create social, physical, and economic environments that promote attaining the full potential for health and well Being for all.” Reducing health inequity is a clear social mandate for nursing in the 21st century, and will require nursing care that is more acutely focused on the SDOH (Thorton & Persaud, 2018). SDOH require knowledge of and include, but not limited to, the concepts of advocacy, ethics, clinical judgement, communication, compassionate care, diversity, equity, inclusion, evidenced based practice, quality and safety, and professionalism. It is important to specifically address the concepts of diversity, inclusion, and equity. The definitions of these concepts vary in the literature.
Diversity addresses potential differences in individuals and groups. Diversity encompasses differences in race, age, gender identity, religion, culture, language, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic class of individual persons. Inclusion is creating, fostering, and sustaining practices and conditions that encourage and allow each of us to be fully ourselves—with our differences from and similarities to those around us—as we work together (Jagoo, 2021). Inclusion refers to the act or practice of including and accommodating people who have historically been excluded because of their race, gender, sexuality or ability (Jagoo, 2021). Diversity focuses on representation, whereas inclusivity focuses on how to help the group feel like they belong.
Equity examines the fairness by which persons of diverse backgrounds are able to access information, health care, higher education, and other resources that help them to advance and fully contribute to society. A common image differentiating equality and equity is three different persons with different physical characteristics. Equality is providing all three people with three identical bicycles. Equity is providing each individual with a bicycle that is appropriate for their use. In this analogy, a young child would receive a smaller bicycle than a person who is six feet tall or a person with physical limitations. With equity, each would receive a bicycle to accommodate their physical structure, strengths, and limitations.
Similarly, the definitions of race and ethnicity are often used synonymously. Race represents the physical characteristics. Race is biological, describing physical traits inherited from your parents. A person may identify as belonging to one or more race such as White, Black or African American, Asian, American Indian or Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. Ethnicity reflects cultural identification. Cultural identity, chosen or learned from your culture and family. Commonalities such as national origin, tribal heritage, religion, language, and culture can describe someone’s ethnicity.
As nurses, we cannot overemphasize the significant impact cultural humility, SDOH, diversity, equity and inclusion have on the health outcomes of our patients. When we understand and employ these concepts, we can bridge the gap between the patient and the health care system and provide the best possible care for our patients.
References American Nurses Association. (2015). Code of ethics for nurses. American Nurses Publishing. Dayer-Berenson, L. (2013) Cultural competencies for nurses: Impact on health and illness (2nd ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Barlett DeChesnay, M. & Andersin, B.A. (2020). Caring for the vulnerable: Perspectives in nursing theory, practice, and research (5th ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Barlett Jagoo, K. (2021) What is inclusion? Retrieved from https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is- inclusion-5076061 James, T. (2020). What Is Upstream Healthcare? An approach to care that examines and addresses root causes rather than symptoms can improve long-term outcomes and decrease healthcare costs. Retrieved from https://healthcity.bmc.org/population- health/upstream-healthcare-sdoh-root causes#:~:text=Simply%20put%2C%20upstream%20healthcare%20is%20any%20approa ch%20to,we%20can%20change%20the%20corollaries%20in%20health%20outcomes. Manchanda, R. (2016). What is an “Upstreamist” in Health Care? Retrieved from https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?fr=yhs-trp-001&ei=UTF-8&hsimp=yhs- 001&hspart=trp&p=Upstream+health+care&type=Y167_F163_202037_102020#id=21&vid=b5800de74a3f0cbaeb6d17aa78001afc&action=view Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (n.d.). Social determinants of health. Healthy People 2030. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/social-determinants-health Purnell, L.D. (2014). Guide to culturally competent health care (3rd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis Company Thornton, M., & Persaud, S. (2018). Preparing Today’s Nurses: Social Determinants of Health and Nursing Education. OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing. University at Buffalo, School of Social Work (2019). Conversations about culture: Video and lesson plan. Retrieved from http://socialwork.buffalo.edu/resources/conversations- about-culture.html
At a gubernatorial debate hosted by Iowa PBS' Iowa Press on October 17, 2022, Governor Kim Reynolds made a comment about nurses and their educational backgrounds.
While debating the student loan repayment/forgiveness announcement shared by the Biden administration, Governor Reynolds said, "If you are that truck driver or machinist or a nurse, a person that decided not to seek a college education, why should you be responsible in paying someone else's off, especially when they often make more than you do?"
As the representative for nurses in Iowa, INA knows Iowa nurses work hard to obtain an education, complete clinical hours, pass the NCLEX to earn a nursing license, and then maintain their license and continue their education for the duration of their careers.
View the Press Release
Join us in educating the Governor, so we can help her understand that nurses are actually highly educated, trained and licensed members of the health care community!
Register an Opinion
Register an Opinion at Governor Reynolds' office, or call her staff at 515-281-5211, Monday through Friday, 8 am - 4:30 pm. Don't hesitate to leave a message if you get a voicemail.
It can also be effective to send your comments in writing. To do so, send a letter to the following address:
Office of the GovernorIowa State Capitol 1007 East Grand AvenueDes Moines, IA 50319
Together, we can change the incorrect perspective and opinion. We can remind the public once again that nursing remains the most trusted profession.
Watch the full debate
*Governor Reynolds' comment about nurses not being college educated is at the 40:08 minute mark.
“Our hearts ache tremendously for the loved ones and the communities left behind in the wake of these heinous acts of violence,” said American Nurses Association President Ernest J. Grant, PhD, RN, FAAN. “The loss of young lives and the trauma of those who witnessed the carnage and survived will remain with them forever. Their lives will never be the same. There simply are no words. Burying a child is the most unnatural and horrific act that no parent should ever have to experience in their lifetime.”
Nurses witness the immediate carnage and devastation from mass shootings and gun violence.
“It's unimaginable and you never recover from it,” said Grant. “We extend our hearts and full support to all of the first responders, nurses and health care professionals providing care to victims and loved ones at the hospitals and health systems in affected communities across the country.”
Read the full statement here.