Nursing 3310A/B Study Guide - Final Guide: Political Subjectivity, Akazu, Environmental Stewardship

• School: Western University
• Department: Nursing
• Course: Nursing 3310A/B
• Professor: Mary- Anne Davies

Document Summary

Globalization and greater diversity in western populations have lowered the barriers that once separated cultures both internationally and domestically. The concept of cultural competence has been criticized for its essentialist roots. An essentialist perspective views culture as static and unchanging. Thus, the development of cultural competence is focused on learning cognitive aspects of culture such as values, beliefs, and traditions of a particular group and applying this knowledge in practice. Some authors have suggested the need to revise the concept of cultural competence by using a constructivist definition of culture and by focusing on the process that cultural competence represents. The proposed definition of culture competence is presented in a continuum of knowledge, not as a shift of knowledge in the field of culturally congruent care. Religion, nationality, and race influence behaviours related to health and disease. View culture as a set of defined values, beliefs, and practices. This minimizes the complexities, conflicts, and uncertainties present in every culture.