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Diversity in a health care setting
Diversity in a health care setting
Diversity in a health care setting
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Globalization and immigration are two major forces increasing cultural diversity around the world. Technological advancements, increasing international travel, and ethnic strife in countries such as Syria are some of the factors contributing to this trend. As a result, most individuals live in a multi-cultural society and are trying to preserve their identity while interacting with people from varying backgrounds. The health care industry is not immune to increasing diversity and to adapt, organizations and employees must learn how to provide culturally congruent care (Emami & Safipour, 2013). In this post I will define diversity, discuss the benefits of a diverse workforce, discuss the barriers to attaining a more diverse nursing profession, and describe how my cultural background affects the nursing care that I provide. Definition of Diversity Workplace diversity includes the attributes, elements, and differences that set a person apart from others in the work setting. There are many factors that influence diversity including age, race, culture, gender, ethnicity, birthplace, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, education and work …show more content…
The more diverse the workplace population is, the more likely the organization will be able to solve problems and make decisions because diversity brings with it varied outlooks, approaches, ideas and points of view. Staff members and leaders with different backgrounds can offer different perspectives when evaluating goals and unintended consequences from policy-making and procedural changes. For patients seeking health care, having a diverse workforce increases positive outcomes. Patients receiving care from someone with a similar background leads to increased satisfaction, increased treatment compliance, improved productivity, and a reduction in health disparities (Andrews & Boyle,
Management activities include educating the group and providing support for the acceptance and respect for various racial, cultural, societal, geographic, economic and political backgrounds.” Management should encourage and spearhead an increase in both ethnic and racial diversity amongst health care workers into management positions. According to Cohen, et-al, (2002) “by having medically trained health care policymakers who will accurately reflect the diverse American culture can eventually, have a substantial influence on the future of health care policy for all Americans”
Cañas, K. A., & Sondak, H. (2014). Opportunities and challenges of workplace diversity: Theory, cases, and exercises (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
Going to a different country or area of the world can open up anybody’s eyes to see that culture makes a huge impact on the understanding and practices of healthcare that seem to be so common to other areas of the world. When a person lives in one country their whole life, that person may not realize how different the life they live is from someone in a foreign country. If a person is going to receive treatment from someone with a different cultural background, they should be expected to get treatment to respects their own culture. Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences having such a diverse variety of students has their own cultural competency definition that states “effectively and comfortably communicate across cultures with patients of differing backgrounds, taking into account aspects of trust in order to adopt mutually acceptable objectives and measures”. In the book Dancing Skeletons: Life and Death in West Africa by Katherine Dettwyler, the issue of culture and healthcare are greatly prevalent. Katherine Dettwyler herself goes to West Africa as an anthropologist and her horizons are broadened when during her research she comes in contact with how much culture has an impact on healthcare and everyday life.
In respect to diversity, one may wonder, “What is diversity?” Diversity is defined as all the ways in which employees differ. Diversity
research on healthcare practices in a culturally diverse setting has established the importance of cultural awareness, competence, and diversity for healthcare workers.
The importance of promoting diversity in the nursing workforce is acknowledged by various nursing agencies and health organizations, including the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN, 2013). Diversity in the nursing workforce provides opportunities to deliver quality care which promotes patient satisfaction and emotional well-being. Reaching across the boundaries of culture is very important in delivering patient-centered care. Nurses are to be trusted by their patients. If a diverse population is not met with a diverse workforce, that trust may not be gained. This recommendation promotes the bonding of individuals based on culture and
Lee, W. K., Wong, V., & Judd, N. (2010, May). Promoting Diversity of the Health Care Workforce. Hawaii Medical Journal, 69(5), 130-131.
In order to provide a diverse healthcare environment, all employees in the healthcare system must understand the difference between culture and diversity. Naturally, culture and diversity mean the same thing. Culture, is certain behavioral characteristics that are learned and shared. Diversity is referred to a person who is of different racial background. Considering a population’s diversity and culture together helps establish culture in a healthcare
The understanding of global awareness in the nursing profession prepares nurses to address global issues affecting the quality of health in patients (World Health Organization, 2007). In correlation, cultural awareness in the nursing profession is crucial to understanding a patient’s beliefs, values, thoughts, and behaviors to provide high-quality, effective care. Regardless of geographic location, both global and cultural awareness heightens the education of nurses to deliver culturally competent care to diverse populations (Douglas et al, 2011). Culturally competent care focuses on the patient as a whole and allows the patient to remain as a unique individual (Campinha-Bacote, 2011). The twelve, Standards of Practice for Culturally
Cultural sensitivity means being aware that cultural differences and similarities exist and have an effect on values, learning, action, and behavior (Stanhope, et al., 2005). Beliefs and practices about health and illness are different with different cultures. With appropriate respect and interaction, nurses can win the patients’ trust. A culturally competent nurse must discard the assumption that all patients evaluate the quality of the care they receive the same way. Nurses should understand that culture is a fundamental part of patients' lives, and cultural barriers may impede care access and delivery (Hagman, 2007). A nurse needs to have varied beliefs and strategies for handling situations and patient care issues. She needs to listen and be tolerant. Being understanding of differences will not only broaden her own horizons, but also will help her to become a better nurse. A cultural competent nurse should ask questions and listen carefully to the answers in order to better understand the cultural diversity issues in health care that affect her patient. This approach emphasizes the patient’s role in promoting his wellness and in his responsibility for his own care. Being sensitive and showing respect for different cultural patients are nurses’ job (Quan, nd).
Companies such as Buzztronics are leading the way in the global economy because of their dedication to diversity in the workplace. In order to build a diverse and successful workforce, a business needs to recruit, train, and retain capable and talented minorities.
Shen, J., Chanda, A., D’Netto, B., & Monga, M. (2009). Managing diversity through human resource management: An international perspective and conceptual framework. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 20(2), 235-251.
Managing Diversity in the workplace is more than just an acquired skill; it is "a way of thinking”. It is reflective of an attitude that organizations and their staffs must adopt that allows them to change their basic concepts about workers and converts “them” into “us”.
Knowledge of cultural diversity is vital at all levels of nursing practice. It is of the utm...