The nurse desires to improve cultural competence when providing patien

The nurse desires to improve cultural competence when providing patient care. What action should the nurse take first to develop this competency?

1. Understand the culture of the patient.
2. Identify the goals for culturally competent care.
3. Gain proficiency in another language beyond English.
4. Understand and recognize the nurse’s own cultural background.

ESSAYBID ANSWER

Answer: 4
Explanation: 4. Until the nurse can understand and acknowledge the cultural background from which the nurse operates, it will be very difficult to develop cultural competence. Gaining proficiency in another language and understanding the patient’s culture is important to developing cultural competence as well as understanding the goals of culturally competent care, but less important than the nurse understanding and recognizing his or her own cultural background.