Navigating cultural diversity is fundamental to beginning your nursing journey in the United States. The cultural landscape in the US is richly varied, and understanding these differences is crucial as you start working and interacting with patients in US hospitals.
As an international nurse, you will encounter patients from diverse cultural, religious, and ethnic backgrounds with unique needs and expectations. Recognizing and integrating these diverse perspectives into your care enhances the patient experience and contributes to a more inclusive and supportive healthcare environment.
We aim to ensure you have the resources, knowledge, and support you need to excel in your hospitals.
Cultural Diversity in Patient Care
Healthcare professionals play a crucial role in meeting the diverse needs of patients, ensuring that care is both culturally sensitive and respectful of individual beliefs and values.
It’s essential to identify and prioritize the educational needs of patients and their families and provide ongoing education throughout the healthcare process. This includes safe and effective use of medications, equipment, nutrition, rehabilitation, pain management, self-care, and available healthcare resources. All patients have the right to receive care that is sensitive to, respectful of, and responsive to their cultural and religious beliefs and values.
When creating education and discharge plans, consider the patient’s abilities, preferences, and learning readiness. Address any communication or language barriers and physical and cognitive limitations. Involve the patient and their family in the process, using appropriate educational resources like written materials, videos, audio aids, or interpreters.
Patients’ needs should also be met by accommodating food preferences, dietary restrictions, and alternative therapies. Discharge education should cover self-care, discharge treatments, lifestyle adjustments, and ongoing care management to ensure a smooth transition from hospital to home.
Diversity in the Workplace
Cultural diversity issues affect the healthcare workplace and nursing practice.
As cultural diversity grows, nurses must enhance their sensitivity and awareness of cultural differences. Incorporating cultural considerations into assessments and care planning is necessary for patient care and interactions with coworkers and team members. As you know, being mindful of your patient’s needs is essential, especially regarding their cultural accommodations.
Meet your patient needs by responding to the following:
- Language or sensory communication needs and eye contact
- Rituals and prayer practices
- Gender roles, including authority/decision-making
- Identification/inclusion of a support person in the healthcare process
- Food preferences, dietary restrictions, and alternative therapies
- Medical care preferences, including gender of healthcare workers
- Use appropriate educational resources: written, video, audio, interpreters, etc.
- Discharge education includes self-care, discharge treatments, lifestyle changes, and management of continuing care.
- Beliefs about organ/tissue donation
Embracing cultural diversity in the US healthcare system is about recognizing differences and actively integrating them into your nursing practice. As an international nurse, your ability to provide culturally sensitive care will be pivotal in building trust with your patients.
Addressing patients’ diverse needs contributes to a healthcare environment where everyone feels valued and understood. Your commitment to culturally competent care is vital in creating a more inclusive and effective healthcare system in the United States!
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Ask your hospital staff for guidance if you ever have questions about how to best care for your patients and their needs. We hope this blog gave you a glimpse into preparing for cultural differences as an international nurse in the US.
If you have any questions for our Clinical team, please email us at clinicalservices@interstaffinc.com.