Reflection on Cultural Awareness
Applying cultural awareness in clinical practice is a multistep process that requires measures, including training sessions with certifications, completing cultural awareness self-assessment, and direct engagement with cross-cultural patients. Eliminating cultural barriers helps improve healthcare delivery since there is clarity in communication and understanding of the patients’ needs. The programs available for nurses’ certification as multi-cultural aid in the prevention of misdiagnosis cases or misuse of medication because of misunderstanding prescriptions. Online tutorials and classes are suitable because of the availability of technology and Massive Open Online Courses with low fees and even free certifications.
An example of miscommunication at the workplace caused by differences in diversity was when a patient attempted to tell their symptoms while in triage before being sent in to see the doctor. The patient was not a native English speaker, which caused a challenge of understanding what they were attempting to relay. The challenge presented was that there was time wasted trying to understand the patient. Interacting with patients whose native language is not English is common and needs to be addressed across the board for improved service delivery.
Instances of such nature can be prevented by having a multi-cultural team present at the workplace where the diverse team can cater to patients of specific backgrounds to reduce the backlog. The individuals can help bridge the communication barrier between patients and healthcare providers for more accurate outcomes and enhanced interactions. Another resolution is to encourage employees to learn more about the cultures that are mostly occurring in institutions. The data collected and stored from the patients can be analyzed to determine what cultures are highly reoccurring and drive the institutions towards broadening their language competence and diversity. Following the recommendations and guidelines can help improve the face of healthcare and eliminate barriers that hinder the goals from being achieved.