Culturally competent care is an essential aspect of nursing care

Posted: May 5th, 2020

Based on the readings, viewing the online materials & resources on the Module 4: Lecture Materials & Resources page, and your own experience, what strategies would you recommend encouraging culturally competent care of Native Americans?
Submission Instructions:
Your initial post should be at least 500 words, formatted and cited in current APA style with support from at least 2 academic sources. Your initial post is worth 8 points.Based on the readings, viewing the online materials & resources on the Module 4: Lecture Materials & Resources page, and your own experience, what strategies would you recommend encouraging culturally competent care of Native Americans?
Online Materials & Resources
1. Visit the CINAHL Complete under the A-to-Z Databases on the University Library’s Links to an external site.website, locate and read the article(s) below:
Hill, D.L. (2009). Relationship between sense of belonging as connectedness and suicide in American Indians. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 23(1), 65-74.
Lowe, J. (2007). Research brief: The need for historically grounded HIV/AIDS prevention research among Native Americans. Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care, 18(2), 15-17.
2. Explore/View the website(s) below:
Explore the Best and Promising Practices section of the Indian Health Service website:
IHS. (n.d.). Best and Promising Practices | for Providers. Retrieved from https://www.ihs.gov/forproviders/bestpractices/Links to an external site.Online Materials & Resources
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Culturally competent care is an essential aspect of nursing care and is especially important when providing care to Native American patients. According to the Indian Health Service (IHS), culturally competent care is defined as “the ability of health care providers and organizations to understand and respond effectively to the cultural and linguistic needs of their patients” (IHS, n.d.). In this post, I will recommend several strategies to encourage culturally competent care of Native Americans.

Strategy 1: Understanding the culture of Native Americans

The first step towards providing culturally competent care is to understand the culture of Native Americans. Nurses should learn about their traditions, beliefs, and values to understand their health-seeking behaviors. One important aspect of Native American culture is the emphasis on spirituality and the interconnectedness of all things. Nurses should be aware of this and approach their patients with respect and sensitivity to their spiritual beliefs. Additionally, nurses should be aware of the importance of extended families in Native American communities and the role of community leaders in decision-making.

Strategy 2: Communication

Effective communication is crucial to providing culturally competent care. Nurses should use clear and concise language when communicating with Native American patients and families. It is also important to be aware of the differences in nonverbal communication, such as eye contact and touch, as they may have different meanings in Native American culture. Using a professional medical interpreter, when needed, can be helpful in overcoming language barriers and ensuring that patients receive accurate information.

Strategy 3: Establishing trust and building relationships

Establishing trust and building relationships with Native American patients and families is crucial to providing culturally competent care. Nurses should take the time to listen to their patients and families and engage them in their care plan. Native American patients may be hesitant to share personal information with healthcare providers they do not know, so nurses should work to establish trust and build relationships with them over time.

Strategy 4: Incorporating traditional healing practices

Incorporating traditional healing practices into the care plan can be an effective way to provide culturally competent care to Native American patients. Traditional healing practices may include the use of herbal remedies, prayer, or traditional ceremonies. Nurses should work collaboratively with Native American patients and families to incorporate these practices into their care plan when appropriate.

Strategy 5: Education and training

Providing education and training to healthcare providers on the culture and health practices of Native Americans is essential to promoting culturally competent care. This can include training on the history of Native Americans and their healthcare experiences, as well as specific cultural practices and beliefs. Nurses should also be aware of the potential for bias and stereotyping and work to overcome these barriers to providing culturally competent care.

In conclusion, providing culturally competent care to Native American patients requires an understanding of their culture, effective communication, building relationships and trust, incorporating traditional healing practices, and ongoing education and training. Nurses who are committed to providing culturally competent care can help to reduce health disparities and improve health outcomes for Native American patients.