Cultural Diversity in the Nursing Workforce



Abstract

Having a culturally diverse nursing workforce means that there will be an understanding between patients and the nurses because they will be able to relate due to the similarity in lingual and cultural mind-set and values. This helps in the provision of better service the patients as an empathy is developed amongst patients and nurses, which makes it easier to cater for patients' nutritional and remedial needs. Therefore, development and recruitment strategies at all healthcare organizations should accommodate the culturally diverse nursing workforce. Along with that the nursing professionals should be trained at employing culturally competence and congruence to tackle and solve the diversity problems in the workplace.

Table of Contents

Abstractii

Introduction1

Cultural Competence2

ALCANCE: A Nursing Workforce Diversity Grant3

Financial Support4

Barriers to Diversity5

Nursing Implications5

Conclusion6

Cultural Congruence6

References8

Bibliography9

Cultural Diversity in the Nursing Workforce

Introduction

Diversity means a number of things for instance differences in race, age, ethnicity, religion, and gender. He contends that diversity has become among other things, political. With regards to the nursing profession, cultural diversity in the workforce is of prime importance. The reason being that for the most part nurses have the most contact with patients. This has an impact on the quality and effectiveness of the healthcare they provide.

The biggest advantage of having a culturally diverse nursing workforce is that they can create a bond of understanding with the patients due to the same lingual and cultural attitudes and beliefs. This helps them better serve the patients as they develop empathy for patients' ideas, behaviors, nutritional needs, traditional remedies and provide them appropriate care (Swinney & Dobal, 2008).

The feasibility and efficiency of the health care system in the US is at risk from the ongoing nurse-staffing predicament that has resulted in growing scarcity of trained registered nurses to fill professional positions.

Discussion

It is commonly acknowledged in the healthcare industry that the number of nurses from diverse backgrounds needs to be increased. In order to ensure that the country provides appropriate and culturally fitting healthcare for its ever growing minority populace.

The recent increase in the global immigration to US has led to amplified cultural diversity in every industry, which has various implications such as the needs of the minority population being well catered, inclusiveness in health care, and heightened cultural competency. All of which leads to better service provision to patients from different cultural backgrounds.

Following are some of the important aspects of cultural diversity among the nursing workforce.

Cultural Competence

There are a great number of culturally diverse people who seek healthcare all across the globe. For the purpose of better understanding the needs of ethnically and racially diverse patients cultural competence has become an integral part of the healthcare workforce. Nurses are now encouraged to focus on acquiring cultural competency, so they are better equipped to provide proper nursing care to the culturally diverse patient population.

Cultural competency requires constant revision and examination of cultural awareness and better healthcare practices that are aligned with the cultural needs of the ethnically diverse patients. Competent nurses examine and study all the culturally effective and relevant ...