Enter text for rollover 1This scenario is an example of one of the earliest stages in my journey toward being a culturally competent healthcare provider. The awareness that we did not have the resources or skills in place to adequately respond to this patient corresponds to the first step in Campinha-Bacote's model of culturally competent health care. It often takes a wake-up call to get our attention and ultimately provide the motivation for a journey towards cultural competence. The desire to become culturally competent has to be present, or cultivated, or we won't get very far. If there is no desire, we may respond to the situation by saying "it's not my problem, patients should learn English." Many years ago, I had an interesting wake up call when I was receiving healthcare in another country where I didn't speak the language. I had no way to communicate to the doctors that I needed more pain medication; that was my eye-opener to the critical need for cross-cultural communications in the delivery of healthcare.

... or select a jpg

Enter text for rollover 2The cultural awareness I found in this scenario told me that there was a lot about the situation that I didn't know, and that I needed to become proactive in finding resources to help me. I also recognized that I needed to become more connected in my ability to network with community elders and other healthcare providers who had more experience in cultural competency. ... or select a jpg

Enter text for rollover 3I realized that I needed to begin to develop the knowledge base and skills necessary to provide culturally competent care in future encounters I would have with Hmong patients. ... or select a jpg

Enter text for rollover 4I also recognized that, over time, I would become more proficient, but that I needed more encounters with patients from culturally diverse backgrounds in order to modify, adapt, and practice skills needed in delivery effective cross-cultural care.
... or select a jpg

Enter text for rollover 5Being a culturally competent healthcare provider improves our capacity as caregivers. It's matter of heart: if I don't desire to improve, I won't. It is important to begin recognizing how much we need to learn. This awareness leads us to seek out knowledge, which we can then translate into skills that we can use in our practice. ... or select a jpg

Enter text for rollover 6Campinha-Bacote, J. (2003). Cultural desire: The spiritual key to cultural competency. Journal of Christian nursing, 20(3), 20-2.... or select a jpg