Culture
The community where I work and the professional associations that I participate in are reflective of my commitment to provide equal opportunity and quality of care to all persons. My position as lead district nurse for Isaac School District in Phoenix places me in charge of the health delivery and programs for eleven schools, and their 5,500 students. My affiliation with the National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN) represents my commitment to supporting and actively recruiting members of the Latino community in Phoenix to careers in healthcare. These are two examples of my response to the need for a more unified level of care among the disparate cultures of my city.
Cultural competence is a much-used phrase in modern nursing, and is established nationally in the curricula of all nursing programs in the United States. It represents a unifying goal: "The primary aim of the cultural competence movement has been to increase health equity and reduce disparities by concentrating on people of color and other disadvantaged populations" (Campinha-Bacote, 2011).
I have the opportunity in the near future to introduce 'Muevete', a program developed by NAHN to address childhood obesity, particularly among Latino children. Being in the unique position of being both a member of NAHN and in charge of a school district's health delivery system to students, I am very involved in this community outreach program and its efforts to promote healthy lifestyle changes.
Further, I am involved in the recruitment of Latino men and women into the healthcare profession. It is a part of NAHN's mission, and an important step toward bringing needed care to under-served communities. In Phoenix, Latinos represent over 35 percent of the population, yet only make up 3 percent of the healthcare workforce.
Reflective statement: My decisions to work in the setting that I do, and my choice of volunteer projects are a direct representation of my commitment to bringing quality care to all persons, without consideration as to culture, race, ethnicity, or gender. It is directed effort, made with conscientious awareness of the disparities that exist in quality of care among certain groups of my community. My continued work in these projects furthers my development and refinement of cultural competency skills.
Cultural competence is a much-used phrase in modern nursing, and is established nationally in the curricula of all nursing programs in the United States. It represents a unifying goal: "The primary aim of the cultural competence movement has been to increase health equity and reduce disparities by concentrating on people of color and other disadvantaged populations" (Campinha-Bacote, 2011).
I have the opportunity in the near future to introduce 'Muevete', a program developed by NAHN to address childhood obesity, particularly among Latino children. Being in the unique position of being both a member of NAHN and in charge of a school district's health delivery system to students, I am very involved in this community outreach program and its efforts to promote healthy lifestyle changes.
Further, I am involved in the recruitment of Latino men and women into the healthcare profession. It is a part of NAHN's mission, and an important step toward bringing needed care to under-served communities. In Phoenix, Latinos represent over 35 percent of the population, yet only make up 3 percent of the healthcare workforce.
Reflective statement: My decisions to work in the setting that I do, and my choice of volunteer projects are a direct representation of my commitment to bringing quality care to all persons, without consideration as to culture, race, ethnicity, or gender. It is directed effort, made with conscientious awareness of the disparities that exist in quality of care among certain groups of my community. My continued work in these projects furthers my development and refinement of cultural competency skills.
Campinha-Bacote, J., (May 31, 2011) "Delivering Patient-Centered Care in the Midst of a Cultural Conflict: The Role of Cultural Competence" OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing Vol. 16, No. 2, Manuscript 5.