Cultural Competency In Canada

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Canada is a multicultural country where our government recognizes and ensures that the value and dignity of all citizens’ ethnic backgrounds, religions and languages are maintained (Government of Canada, 2017). In 2016, almost one-fifth of Canada’s population were immigrants. (Statistics Canada, 2017). With this continual increase in diversity, it is essential for students and future registered nurses to understand how to provide culturally competent care in any setting. Culture can be described as the specific characteristics and knowledge shared between individuals and/or groups within a society that encompasses elements such as language, beliefs, and values (Canadian Nurses Association, 2010). The Canadian Nurses Association (2010) defines cultural competence as “the application of knowledge, skills, attitudes, or personal …show more content…

For example, the Campinha-Bacote model views cultural competence as an ongoing process that involves the integration of the following constructs: cultural awareness, cultural knowledge, cultural skill, cultural encounters, and cultural desires (Campinha-Bacote, 2002). This model can be implemented into practice as I can recognize my own cultural background to prevent the tendency to impose any biases on another individual’s culture. I can begin to build upon my cultural knowledge by asking questions in a respectful manner to seek information about one’s culture. Most importantly, a desire to want to engage in the process of becoming culturally competent will be a deciding factor for positive patient outcomes. Examples of this desire may include, the willingness to learn how to conduct cultural assessments or a genuine passion to be open and accept differences between cultures. Moreover, it is important to recognize that cultural competency is not an end result, but an ongoing learning process (Campinha-Bacote,

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