Purnell Model Of Cultural Competences

Some of the author’s major points are the lack of understanding of what cultural competence really means which is bringing confusion about ways it can be utilized in the social work field. The confusion of the utilization of cultural competence is leading to the lack of consensus concerning the effective training that providers should obtain and the population being served with the cultural competence skills lack clear description. According to the author, the most popular cultural competence intervention in the healthcare system is the cultural competency training which is for health care providers and the two approaches that have been utilized in creating the intervention are; the programs aimed at improving knowledge which is group specific,

Government and accreditation authorities have also incorporated cultural competence in strategic planning of health services in Australia (Victorian Department of Health 2009, 2011a, 2011b)

Cultural Competence Cultural competence has big impact on today’s society. Health care institutions need to be able to provide proper care to every patient. Cultural competence is about learning about different ethnic backgrounds. Everyone feels the need get social support in a health environment, especially here in the U.S.

Patient centered care is a core component of nursing practice. Understanding and practicing cultural competence is a central element of delivering patient centered care. One approach to understanding other cultures is by utilizing the Purnell Model for Cultural Competence. According to Larry Purnell (2002), cultural competence is defined as “the adaptation of care in a manner that is consistent with the culture of the client and is…a conscious process and nonlinear” (p. 193). In the model, culture is divided into 12 different domains: overview/heritage, communication, family roles and organization, workforce issues, biocultural ecology, high-risk behaviors, nutrition, pregnancy and childbearing practices, death rituals, spirituality, health care practices, and health care practitioner (Purnell, 2002). This model is an excellent framework for assessing and interpreting the cultural complexities of each patient so the best individualized care can be provided. I have used this model and each of its domains in an interview with my friend, Surbhi Patel, in an attempt to further understand her culture.

1. What is cultural competence for nurses? Cultural competence for nurses “is a combination of culturally congruent behaviors, practice attitudes, and policies that allow nurses to work effectively in a cross- cultural situations. (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2018, p. 74).

Cultural competent? What is the big deal? “The term cultural competence is used to describe a set of skills, values and principles that acknowledge, respect and work towards optimal interactions between the individual and the various cultural and ethnic groups that an individual might come in contact with” (HumanServicesEDU, para. 1). Being able to understand and effectively understand other cultures than your own, can make a huge difference in the patient’s treatment and how well the case manager can do his or her job.

In our today’s society, we are faced with multiple cultures that affect our ways of thinking, acting, and leaving. Cultural competency reflects one’s culture. Culture reflects the way the children are raised, their way of communicating, what is acceptable or not acceptable, the way they overcome challenges, their clothes, and how we go about medical treatment and so on. I know because I come from a very strong cultural background where it is considered bad to look at older people straight in the eyes while talking to them. Culture can be defined as “the learned and shared beliefs, values and life ways of a designated or particular group that are generally transmitted intergenerational and influence one’s thinking and action modes” (Leininger, 2002).

My understanding of Cultural Competence is having a good understanding of different cultures, knowing how to communicate with different people, interact with different people, skills & ability to deal with any culture difference, respect of differences etc. Communication is very important in providing the best setting & needs, there can sometimes be a barrier within languages spoken so as a carer you need to be patient, respectful, have the abilities to help with this situation, ask for help from another staff member & sometimes an interpreter may need to be bought in if the barrier is too strong.

Recent data have cited that Asian Americans are the fastest-growing ethnic community in the United States. As a result, the United States will experience developing and new societal changes. This introduces the urgency for cultural competence. Cultural competence is the ability to communicate and work with multicultural and diverse people. Therefore, this capability will help accommodate for the expanding society. By being able to learn and discuss topics concerning racial relations, this can lead to stronger connections being formed with communities outside of our own.

Understand cultural competence and why is it important especially for that have a diverse workforce.

Cultural competence is defined by Stewart and Denisco (2015) as “the demonstration of knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors based on diverse and relevant cultural experiences” (p. 113). Cultural competence should manifest itself in the presence of cultural competence behaviors. These are the observable actions that grow out of increased experiences with diversity, gains in awareness, and refinement of sensitivity to the beliefs and values of others (Srewart & Denisco, 2015).

Purnell’s Model of Cultural Competence is often used in health care settings to determine variations in value’s, beliefs, and cultures of an individual. This model has been very helpful, especially for student nurses as a tool for clinical assessment. I interviewed Gabriel to get a better understanding of his culture and values. The two domains I am focused on were communication and family roles and organization.

One source once stated, “By masking the discomfort, of being pre-judged” (Mora 40). People should examine their culture in order to better understand how it affects their identity and perceptions. In order to understand one’s cultural identity, he or she needs to understand what the term means. According to one source, cultural identity can be defined as “We all have unique identities that we develop within our cultures, but these identities are not fixed or static” (Trumbull and Pacheco 10). Various aspects of a person’s life that may determine his or her cultural identity music, community, family, ethnicity, relationships, religion, clothing, and food. After analyzing several texts, the reader recognizes that four important

2. Cultural context includes various aspects of identities such as race, gender, nationality, ethnicity, sexual orientation, class, and ability. Some people, especially those with identities that have been historically marginalized, are regularly aware of how their cultural identities influence their communication and influence how others communicate with them. Conversely, people with identities that are dominant or in the majority may rarely, if ever, think about the role their cultural identities play in their

Purnell’s Model for Cultural Competencies is represented by a circle. The perimeter of the circle is made up of three different layers, each representing something different. The outer layer represents the global society; the middle layer represents the individual’s family and the inner layer of the perimeter represents the individual. The center of the circle is divided up into twelve different categories, which look like slices of a pie. Each of these categories represents part of one of the 12 different cultural domains. The very center of the circle, inside the pie slices is a small black circle, this represents all the unknown information about the individual (Dayer-Berenson, 2014).