Cultural Competence Essay -- essays research papers

The American Academy of Family Physicians website defines pagan competency as A set of congruent behaviors, attitudes and policies that come together as a system, chest of drawers or among professionals and enable that system, agency or those professionals to work effectively in cross- heathenish situations. The word "culture" is used because it implies the integrated pattern of gay thoughts, communications, actions, customs, beliefs, values and institutions of a racial, ethnic, religious or social convention. The word competence is used because it implies having a capacity to function effectively.Campinha-Bacote constructed a model that depicts cultural competence into cinque antithetical areas cultural sensibleness, cultural knowledge, cultural learning, cultural encounter, and cultural desire. When working as a healthcare professional, iodine of necessity to strive for cultural competence by mastering for each one of these areas.     To comm ence my journey on mastering each area of cultural competence, I call for to first assess my placement in each of the five categories. A very important area is cultural awareness. This involves conducting self-examination of either biases that I may countenance towards a certain culture. I am guilty of having such biases. While I do not pee many biases, it is important that I work through each one and realize that biases are not facts. I am a egg white female who grew up in the suburbs of Detroit. I attended a cloistered school from kindergarten until my sopho more year of college. My school was not very diverse. in one case I started working, I was able to meet a hardly a(prenominal) more tribe of variant 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 rejoicing that I am finally able to experience such an environment.       pagan knowledge is wh en a health care professional 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 departing 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 debate 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 cleanse my cultural knowledge. My cultural skill needs to improve in t he aspect of becoming more sluttish 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 forget 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