Describe Cultural Competence In Nursing
Diversity and cultural competence in nursing
Reading Head: CULTURE AND DIVERSITY IN HEALTHCARE
CULTURE AND DIVERSITY IN HEALTHCARE
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Executive Summary
Diversity and cultural competence in the workforce are of utmost importance not only in the field of healthcare but also in other sectors. The paper will look at the importance of diversity and a culturally competent workforce such as the growth of mutual respect, trust and reduced misunderstanding and costs in a healthcare setting. A step to step plan to recruit, hire and retain a diverse workforce is also included in this paper, outlining the major steps leaders should follow to attain the same. A diverse workforce is attainable if leaders are willing to accept change and teach others in the organization to accept the same.
The paper will further look at ways an organization can retain its diverse workforce and a plan on how it can train and develop the skill of their staff through cultural awareness. Leadership greatly affects the cultural competence of staff members. The paper proves that the cultural competent nature of the leader is what is transferred to the employee. If a leader is competent, then the staff will also be culturally competent. At the end of the paper, benefits of academic and research skills attained as a practitioner-scholar will be discussed, concluding the overall importance of a diverse and culturally competent workforce.
Introduction
Cultural diversity is one of the most important aspects of today’s healthcare sector. The nursing sector in the healthcare industry is an example of how knowledge and understanding of cultural diversity are important when it comes to customer health and safety. The patient population in many countries is composed of culturally different people. Culture is defined as the norms, beliefs, and attitudes that a particular group of people has. In fact, we all have cultural diversity through our religions, ethnic differences, national origins and at times gender. It is hard for any healthcare facility opened to members of the public to offer their services to people with just one culture. These diversities are the main reason for the understanding and adoption of cultural diversity strategies in healthcare facilities, ensuring efficiency in the services offered to patients from all walks of life (Optimum Health Inc, 2017).
Cultural competence in healthcare can be defined as the ability of the healthcare provider to meet the social, cultural and linguistic needs of their patients. A diverse and competent workforce is very important to the healthcare organization they work with and to the community that they serve. A culturally competent workforce facilitates the growth of mutual respect between healthcare patients and workers. When a worker is culturally competent, they understand the beliefs and cultural practices of their patients avoiding cultural invasion which is a sign of respect. The same is reciprocated by a patient who feels they are understood by the healthcare providers. It also increases trust between the patient and the healthcare providers (Alliance Behavioral Healthcare, n.d.). Patients develop more trust in organizations they feel understand their physical, social, spiritual and cultural needs. The patients participate more in healthcare processes as they feel they also have control over their health and the treatments they get. Patients will therefore not miss appointments as they look forward to receiving treatment from an understanding institution and it also reduces medical errors that may arise due to patient’s lack of cooperation in the treatment. In light of the above, culturally competent workforce and the organizations they work for can avoid legal costs and at the same time improve patient outcome greatly. A culturally diverse workforce is a key to increasing cultural competency in a healthcare institution, increasing patient satisfaction and the quality of health care offered (Betancourt et al., 2016).
Culturally Competent and Diverse Workforce Plan
Assign a leader to carry out the task
Choose a leader is culturally competent and able to attract such talent to the organization. In most cases, the human resource manager is in charge of the recruitment process. Accountability, responsibility and leadership skills will be essential when selecting a diverse workforce (Chuang, 2013).
Get the word out
Advertise positions vacant in various places including community boards, employment agencies, newspapers, and newsletters, visual and audio media among others. The leader should ensure every channel of communication available is used to advertise job openings. If regular channels and contact of usual suspects are used, then the workforce will not be diverse. The word should get out to all members of the community.
Build relationships with cultural groups and organizations
These groups work with diverse communities and can be a source of a diverse workforce. Immigrant-serving agencies, for example, can provide information on the workforce available to perform a certain task and provide employment advice to the organization (Gilliss, Powell & Carter, 2010). Use of websites run by such organizations will enable the organization to have access to local connections to diverse talents. The organization should also embark on efforts to promote them as a viable place to work.
Develop an unbiased interview process
Interviewing can be done by one person or a panel of qualified professionals. The final decision, on which candidates to take up for the job, will be made by the program leader probably the HR manager. Biases should be eliminated when it comes to the interview as it affects the selection of new talent to the organization. Everyone involved in the hiring process should follow a set of clear and consistent guidelines, to reduce misunderstanding. Stereotyping is a common practice in the hiring process, and only one person in the organization should deal with resumes, to avoid biased omissions of some due stereotyping. The recruitment philosophy should focus on the skills one has regardless of when or how long it took to develop such skills. Subjective language should be avoided during the recruitment process as it can exclude qualified candidates without knowing the benefits they might bring to the organization (Gilliss, Powell & Carter, 2010).
Create a diverse workforce retention plan
Following all the above steps will ensure the talent recruited is culturally competent and diverse. However, the question will be on how to retain the talent in the organization. Personalizing retention plans ensure worker retention in that the organization can understand upfront why a diverse employee would stay or leave the organization. Offering incentives to the diverse workforce will increase worker retention. In light of the above, the organization should offer bonuses, stock options and raises, competitive benefit packages such as insurance and retirement benefits among others.
Implementation and Evaluation
The last part of the plan is to implement all the above and make sure that the plan is followed to the later. It will ensure hiring of a diverse workforce. Evaluation and assessment through measuring diversity, diversity turnover and the impact it has on the organization will also be very important (Gilliss, Powell & Carter, 2010).
Plan for providing employee training on cultural awareness and sensitivity
Identifying training and development need of the workforce
It is the first thing in the plan, where the leader will identify the training needs his/her workforce might have. Knowing the needs will ensure that the training program is in context and helps in employee professional development (Tomalin & Stempleski, 2013).
Recruit a professional trainer
The one offering the training should have knowledge and skill in cultural competence and be a sociable person who the employees will feel free and comfortable to interact with. He should know matters affecting the organization’s employees regarding cultural competence.
Develop what will be done during the training beforehand
Before the training, the leader should know exactly what the employees will be trained on. To improve cultural competence and skill of existing staff, training should be on:
Communication
The employees will be trained on better ways to communicate with each other, or to other people especially those who are culturally different from them. Training employees to improve the way they communicate will increase understanding and respect within the organization and between the organization and the community. The above is because employees are the face of the organization and how they communicate a great impact on the organization and community they serve (Tomalin & Stempleski, 2013).
Interpersonal Skills
Employees will be trained on how to improve skills such as self-confidence, being a team player, positive attitude, critical and creative thinking to solve problems among others.
Acceptance to change
Employees will be trained on ways to incorporate cultural competence, accept and welcome new diverse workforce and support management in search of diverse talent.
Informing employees of a training program
Inform the employees of the training program before so that they can prepare themselves psychologically, physically and mentally for the same (Delgado et al., 2013).
Benefits of a diverse and culturally competent workforce
There is a direct relationship between the communities and healthcare organizations. The communities rely on the healthcare organization for their safety and health while the organizations depending on the communities as they are the source of their existence. The two variables work hand in hand, and one cannot work without the other. A diverse workforce has benefits to both the organization and the community.
Diversity drives creativity and…
