Personal Website Proposal
As hard as we may imagine, it is possible for an individual to be culturally competent. Although there are many characteristics involved when cultural competence is defined by several sociologists and experts like the well-accepted definition of Isaacs of Georgetown University and Davis of the National Technical Assistance Center for State Mental Health Planning, these are attainable. Specifically, Davis operational definition of cultural competence is the “integration and transformation of knowledge about individuals and groups of people into specific standards, policies, practices, and attitudes used in appropriate cultural settings to increase the quality of services; thereby producing better outcomes.” (NASP, 2013)
Cultural competence is very important for people to working with diverse set of cultures to be able close disparities among these groups. Although some individuals may have been born with the necessary skills and compassion to be one, it still takes a lot of preparation from individuals to become effective especially in cross cultural communications. Lots of sacrifices have to be undertaken. In a research conducted by Rebecca Clay focusing on becoming a culturally competent individual in the field of healthcare, she found out becoming a culturally competent individual cannot achieve overnight. Training and experience is needed and these can be achieved by learning your culture and other cultures as well. Interaction with different diverse organizations and gatherings also help a lot in understanding the cultures of other people which will later on help you build effective communication with other diversified groups. (Clay, 2010)
Effective cross-cultural communication is very important especially in the field of health care. It is one way where health care professionals and their patients can come and talk about their existing health problems that they experience. People may tend to be aloof in talking about their health specially when these involve confidential matters but if the patient would identify that the health professional’s purpose in being there is to help them, then the patient may be opened to talking and helping the health care professional. Likewise, in most cases, diverse groups may have their own health beliefs and practices which they may allow to share or get corrected if they see how these professionals respect their beliefs and how responsive they are. In achieving an open and effective communication, the patient and the health professional can work hand-in-hand in coming up with the symptoms, causes and treatment to a certain disease. This may also open the communication lines for them to come up with deeper appreciation of each other’s cultural background.
References:
Clay, Rebecca (2010). How do I become culturally competent? Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/gradpsych/2010/09/culturally-competent.aspx
NASP Resources (2013). Defining Cultural competence. Retrieved from http://www.nasponline.org/resources/culturalcompetence/definingcultcomp.aspx
