I am a christian and African American
Cultural competency is a process of developing the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to effectively interact with people from different cultural backgrounds. It involves a deep understanding of one’s own cultural biases and values, as well as the ability to learn about and appreciate the cultural backgrounds of others.
Cultural competency occurs through a series of stages:
Cultural awareness: The first stage is becoming aware of one’s own cultural biases and values. This involves examining your own beliefs and assumptions about culture and identifying any areas where you may have biases.
Cultural knowledge: The second stage is gaining knowledge about different cultures. This can be done through reading, taking courses, or interacting with people from different cultural backgrounds.
Cultural skills: The third stage is developing the skills necessary to effectively interact with people from different cultural backgrounds. This includes skills such as communication, empathy, and conflict resolution.
Cultural desire: The fourth stage is developing a desire to learn about and appreciate different cultures. This involves being open to new experiences and perspectives and being willing to challenge your own cultural assumptions.
Cultural integration: The fifth stage is integrating cultural knowledge, skills, and attitudes into your daily life. This involves applying what you have learned about culture to your interactions with others.
To become culturally aware, one can:
Reflect on their own cultural background and identity. What are their cultural values, beliefs, and assumptions?
Learn about different cultures. This can be done through reading, taking courses, or interacting with people from different cultural backgrounds.
Be mindful of their own cultural biases. When one is interacting with someone from a different cultural background, be aware of their own biases and how they might be influencing their perceptions.
Be open to new experiences and perspectives. Be willing to challenge their own cultural assumptions and be open to learning new things.
Be respectful of others’ cultures. Avoid making assumptions about people based on their cultural background.
The Purnell Model is a framework that helps healthcare professionals and others understand and provide culturally competent care to individuals from different cultural backgrounds. It consists of 12 domains, including heritage, communication, family roles and organization, workforce issues, biocultural ecology, high-risk behaviors, nutrition, pregnancy and childbearing practices, death rituals, spirituality, healthcare practices, and healthcare practitioners. Here’s how I can apply the model when working with subcultures related to immigration status, gender, political beliefs, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and educational status:
Immigration status: When working with immigrants, it is important to be aware of their cultural background, their reasons for immigrating, and the challenges they may face in adapting to a new culture. The Purnell Model can be used to assess the immigrant’s values, beliefs, and practices related to health, illness, and healthcare.
Gender: When working with people of different genders, it is important to be aware of the different roles and expectations that are associated with gender in different cultures. The Purnell Model can be used to assess the person’s values, beliefs, and practices related to health, illness, and healthcare as they relate to their gender.
Political beliefs: When working with people with different political beliefs, it is important to be aware of the different values and beliefs that are associated with different political ideologies. The Purnell Model can be used to assess the person’s values, beliefs, and practices related to health, illness, and healthcare as they relate to their political beliefs.
Socioeconomic status: When working with people from different socioeconomic backgrounds, it is important to be aware of the different challenges and opportunities that are associated with different levels of income and education. The Purnell Model can be used to assess the person’s values, beliefs, and practices related to health, illness, and healthcare as they relate to their socioeconomic status.
Sexual orientation: When working with people of different sexual orientations, it is important to be aware of the different challenges and experiences that are associated with different sexual orientations. The Purnell Model can be used to assess the person’s values, beliefs, and practices related to health, illness, and healthcare as they relate to their sexual orientation.
Educational status: When working with people with different levels of education, it is important to be aware of the different ways that people learn and communicate. The Purnell Model can be used to assess the person’s values, beliefs, and practices related to health, illness, and healthcare as they relate to their educational status.
