Cultural Diversity & Cultural Competence (Chapter 5)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to cultural diversity and culturally competent nursing care from Chapter 5.

Cultural Diversity

The coexistence of different ethnic, racial, socioeconomic, religious, linguistic, and other groups within one social unit.

Dominant Group

The group in a society that holds the most authority to control values, set norms, and impose sanctions.

Minority Group

A group identified by physical or cultural traits that make its members different from the dominant group.

Cultural Assimilation

The process in which minorities living within a dominant group lose cultural characteristics and adopt the majority’s culture.

Culture Shock

Feelings of confusion, fear, or disorientation experienced when placed in an unfamiliar culture.

Culture Conflict

Tension that occurs when people become aware of cultural differences and feel threatened, often responding by ridiculing others’ beliefs.

Cultural Imposition

The belief that everyone should conform to the dominant culture’s belief system.

Cultural Blindness

Ignoring cultural differences and proceeding as if they do not exist.

Stereotyping

Assigning generalized and often inaccurate attributes to an entire group of people.

Implicit Bias

Unconscious attitudes or stereotypes that affect understanding, actions, and decisions toward others.

Factors Inhibiting Sensitivity to Diversity

Behaviors such as stereotyping, implicit bias, cultural imposition, cultural blindness, and culture conflict that reduce cultural sensitivity.

Cultural Influences on Health Care

Areas affected by culture, including physiological variations, reactions to pain, mental health, gender roles, language/communication, orientation to space and time, food, family support, and socioeconomic factors.

Socioeconomic Factors (Poverty)

Economic conditions that influence health status and access to health care, notably limited resources associated with poverty.

Elements of Cultural Competence

Developing self-awareness, demonstrating knowledge of the patient’s culture, and accepting/respecting cultural differences.

Cultural Self-Awareness

A nurse’s ongoing reflection on personal cultural values and biases to enhance care of diverse patients.

Cultural Assessment

Systematic appraisal of a patient’s beliefs, values, traditions, health practices, and attitudes toward health providers.

Guidelines for Culturally Competent Nursing Care

Steps such as performing a cultural assessment, developing self-awareness, seeking cultural assistance, and respecting culturally based family roles.

Culturally Competent Pain Management

Recognizing that pain is whatever the patient states it is and avoiding stereotypes about cultural responses to pain.