Cultural Competence in Nursing Practice: Barriers and Health Care Disparities
Overview
This reflection paper discusses health care disparities and vulnerabilities in patient populations, particularly examining cultural competence barriers in nursing practice. The author presents personal clinical experiences involving vaccine hesitancy based on religious beliefs and racial/cultural discrimination by patients, analyzing how practitioners' lack of cultural knowledge impedes effective patient care delivery.
What this reflection paper covers
- Introduction to health care disparities and economic disadvantages affecting vulnerable populations
- Personal clinical encounters illustrating cultural and racial barriers in patient care
- Analysis of cultural competence barriers in nursing practice and recommendations for improvement
Preview
Initial Discussion Post
Student's Name
Institutional Affiliation
Initial Discussion Post
Despite efforts and goals by the government and health agencies to reduce disparities in the health care sector, some people and populations are still vulnerable than others. In this sense, some people or populations are disadvantaged in terms of access to quality health care. In essence, the vulnerability among certain people or populations can be attributed to several factors. One of the factors is lack or inadequate income resulting in people being economically disadvantaged (Anderson, MapelLentz & Larson, 2019).
In essence, people with low-incomes often find it challenging to access quality health services resulting in their vulnerability. Nursing practices personnel often encounter varieties of cultures during their daily activities. One of the cultures I have recently encountered is a mother who was against her children being immunized due to their cultural beliefs. The woman was adamant that her religion was against vaccines for children and that she would be immune from diseases through faith. In essence, we had to educate her on vaccinations' benefits before she accepted it to be administered on her child. Another recent case was of a patient who could not accept my services due to our cultural and racial differences. The old-man stated that he had a history of only receiving health services from practitioners with who they shared cultural backgrounds. These are some of the cases related to culture that I have encountered in the recent past.