Cultural Competency in Nursing: Applying the Purnell Model

How Cultural Competency Occurs

Cultural competence is the ability of nurses to provide care to all people regardless of their cultures. It occurs when people interact freely and effectively with others, involving respect for the values and beliefs of other people. Cultural competency develops when nurses are self-aware of their biases and cultural background and are willing to learn about the values, beliefs, and practices of people from different cultures (Cerveny et al., 2022). Additionally, nurses must possess skills to effectively interact and communicate with people from other cultures.

Becoming Culturally Aware

Nurses can increase their cultural awareness by:

• Dedicating time to learning about different cultures, values, traditions, and social norms
• Interacting with diverse groups for firsthand experience
• Reflecting on their own assumptions and biases and challenging them
• Seeking feedback from people of different cultures to understand attitudes and behaviors

The Purnell Model for Cultural Competence

The Purnell Model of cultural competency is a crucial tool for studying and teaching intercultural competence in nursing. The model has 12 domains: overview/heritage, family roles and organization, communication, high-risk behaviors, biocultural ecology, workforce issues, death rituals, pregnancy and childbearing practices, nutrition, healthcare practitioners, healthcare practices, and spirituality (Purnell, 2021).

Applying the Model with Subcultures

Healthcare professionals can use the Purnell Model when working with subcultures to:

1. Assess their own cultural competence and reflect on their beliefs, values, and biases
2. Identify the characteristics of the subculture using the twelve domains
3. Develop a culturally appropriate care plan
4. Implement the care plan
5. Evaluate its effectiveness
6. Continue reflecting on their cultural competence

Social Organization System in Cross-Cultural Care

The social organization system enhances understanding of the social structures that influence the beliefs and behaviors of individuals. It recognizes the patient's social norms, creating a trusting and respectful relationship with people from different cultures (Park et al., 2022). The system defines how the patient's social roles determine their health behaviors and care decisions.

Family Involvement in Patient Care

Family is a crucial resource in patient care, providing emotional support. In the nursing community, the family is both a care provider and a receiver of healthcare services. The supportive role of the family continues even when the person is hospitalized. Families provide psychosocial support through techniques such as encouraging patient autonomy, expressing empathy, exercising self-control, and maintaining closeness (Babaei & Abolhasani, 2020).

References

• Babaei, S., & Abolhasani, S. (2020). Family's supportive behaviors in the care of the patient admitted to the cardiac care unit. Journal of Caring Sciences, 9(2), 80.
• Cerveny, M., et al. (2022). Methods of increasing cultural competence in nurses. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 936181.
• Park, J. Y., et al. (2022). What does family involvement in care provision look like? BMC Health Services Research, 22(1), 922.
• Purnell, L. D. (2021). The Purnell model and theory for cultural competence. Textbook for Transcultural Health Care, 19-59.