III Glossary
Open Resources for Nursing (Open RN)
Assimilation: The process of adopting or conforming to the practices, habits, and norms of a cultural group. As a result, the person gradually takes on a new cultural identity and may lose their original identity in the process. (Chapter 3.2)
Bias: To carry an attitude, opinion, or inclination (positive or negative) towards a group or members of a group. Bias can be a conscious attitude (explicit), or a person may not be aware of their bias (implicit). (Chapter 3.2)
Cultural awareness: A deliberate, cognitive process in which health care providers become appreciative and sensitive to the values, beliefs, lifeways, practices, and problem-solving strategies of a client’s culture. Cultural awareness goes beyond a simple awareness of the existence of other cultures and involves an interest, curiosity, and appreciation of other cultures. (Chapter 3.4)
Cultural competence: The process of applying evidence-based nursing in agreement with the preferred cultural values, beliefs, worldview, and practices of clients to produce improved client outcomes. (Chapter 3.1, Chapter 3.4)
Cultural congruent practice: Nursing care that is in agreement with the preferred values, beliefs, worldview, and practices of the health care consumer.[1] (Chapter 3.4)
Cultural desire: Refers to the intrinsic motivation and commitment on the part of a nurse to develop cultural awareness and cultural competency. (Chapter 3.4)
Cultural diversity: Cultural differences in people. (Chapter 3.2)
Cultural encounters: A process where the nurse directly engages in face-to-face cultural interactions and other types of encounters with clients from culturally diverse backgrounds in order to modify existing beliefs about a cultural group and to prevent possible stereotyping. (Chapter 3.4)
Cultural humility: A humble and respectful attitude toward individuals of other cultures that pushes one to challenge their own cultural biases, realize they cannot know everything about other cultures, and approach learning about other cultures as a lifelong goal and process.[2] (Chapter 3.1, Chapter 3.2)
Cultural knowledge: Seeking information about cultural health beliefs and values to understand clients’ world views. (Chapter 3.4)
Cultural negotiation: A process where the client and nurse seek a mutually acceptable way to deal with competing interests of nursing care, prescribed medical care, and the client’s cultural needs. Cultural negotiation is reciprocal and collaborative. When the client’s cultural needs do not significantly or adversely affect their treatment plan, the cultural needs can be accommodated. (Chapter 3.8)
Cultural sensitivity: Being tolerant and accepting of cultural practices and beliefs of people. (Chapter 3.4)
Culturally responsive care: Nursing actions that integrate a person’s cultural beliefs into their care. (Chapter 3.1)
Culturally safe environment: A safe space for clients to interact with health professionals, without judgment