Assignment Guidance

This assignment is a 2000 word – reflective discussion on personal cultural competence

A Reflective Discussion on Personal Cultural Competence

In this assignment you will reflect and analyse on your own cultural competence based on ONE experience from your practice learning to date.  This could include examples such as caring for a patient with diverse needs such as language, religion/spiritual beliefs that differ from your own. You may also choose to consider how gender and sexuality can impact on illness and disability.

The reflective discussion should be based on the Papadopoulos, Tilki, and Taylor (1998) model of cultural competence. This will be used to reflect on your own cultural competence and evaluate how this experience will influence your future nursing practice.

NOTE A REFLECTIVE MODEL DOES NOT NEED TO BE USED TO STRUCTURE THIS ASSIGNMENT. There will be sections of this assignment where it will be acceptable to write in the first person – using ‘I’, however, where possible, in your analysis section try to write in the third person to maintain your academic style.

Introduction.

  • Approximately 250 words.
  • As with all assignment introductions this should inform the reader of the key aspects this assignment will discuss.
  • You may try to set the context for the assignment in terms of the importance of cultural competence in nursing.
  • You must remember to include an 2018 NMC confidentiality clause or the NMC code 2018if you refer to practice placements or patients etc. at any point within the assignment.

Main body.

  • Approximately 1500 words.
  • Use the literature and evidence to justify your discussion.
  • Define the key terms cultural competence and diversity. In this section you will explore the idea of a multicultural society and the need for nurses to be culturally competent.
  • Consider some questions such as ‘What is culture and cultural competence?’ ‘How do they influence or benefit nursing care and patient experiences and outcomes in health care?’ ‘What does it mean to be culturally competent?’ ‘What is the impact to patients if you are not culturally competent?’
  • Introduce the model of cultural competence (Papadopoulos, Tilki, and Taylor 1998). What are the benefits of this model and how can it be used as a benchmark for practice? Are there any critiques/comparisons regarding this model to consider?
  • Introduce a practice scenario (approx. 200 words) citing what happened, what were the implications? Was this a positive or negative patient experience and why?
  • Analysis of the scenario. In this section you will analyse cultural competence and the associated issues when caring for diverse patient groups in relation to your scenario.
  • Using literature, research and evidence, critique the scenario whilst considering some of the aspects below that are relevant to your particular experience-
    • Explore the patient’s specific culture or diverse needs – you may wish to use the literature to discuss how this governs how they live their lives, including their norms, beliefs, values and behaviours.
    • Explore organisational and legislative influences such as policy, guidelines, legal and ethical frameworks – do these factors positively or negatively influence culturally sensitive care?
    • Reflect on the personal factors that can influence cultural competence including awareness, attitudes, values and beliefs, knowledge and skills.
  • Refer back to the model (Papadopoulos et al, 1998) reflect on your own competence and evaluate how this experience will influence and inform your future ensuring practice.
  • How do you intend to improve your cultural competence? Consider education, exposure, knowledge and skills that are required to develop. It may be that your beliefs or attitudes have changed – how will this influence your future nursing practice?

Conclusion.

  • Approximately 250 words.
  • As with all assignment conclusions – no new information should be included in the conclusion.
  • Summarize the key points discussed within your assignment.