Cultural Competency in Health Care

 

Studies of race and health frequently invoke racism, prejudice, and discrimination as possible reasons for high levels of morbidity and mortality among and among other racial and ethnic minorities.

These terms cannot be used interchangeably as they refer to different things.

Your short task this week is to define the following terms, esp. with regards to health care:

racism
prejudice
discrimination

Cultural Competency in Health Care

 

Studies of race and health frequently invoke racism, prejudice, and discrimination as possible reasons for high levels of morbidity and mortality among and among other racial and ethnic minorities.

These terms cannot be used interchangeably as they refer to different things.

Your short task this week is to define the following terms, esp. with regards to health care:

racism
prejudice
discrimination

Cultural Competency in Health Care

Jenny is a White nurse practitioner at a large community hospital. She was educated at one of the best nursing programs in a large urban city and she prides herself on being fair and equal to all her patients. She turned down many jobs at private hospitals because they did not have a diverse clientele. One day Jenny is working with an Hispanic patient who speaks with a heavy accent. Becoming a little frustrated Jenny asked the patient to speak slower and clearer because she does not understand Mexican very well. The patient becomes visibly upset and becomes very short with his answers. When the session is over the patient leaves the room, angrily speaking to himself in Spanish. Jenny didn’t understand why the patient was angry, and from that point on avoided working with Hispanic patients.

What do you think happened here?

Cultural Competency in Health Care

Jenny is a White nurse practitioner at a large community hospital. She was educated at one of the best nursing programs in a large urban city and she prides herself on being fair and equal to all her patients. She turned down many jobs at private hospitals because they did not have a diverse clientele. One day Jenny is working with an Hispanic patient who speaks with a heavy accent. Becoming a little frustrated Jenny asked the patient to speak slower and clearer because she does not understand Mexican very well. The patient becomes visibly upset and becomes very short with his answers. When the session is over the patient leaves the room, angrily speaking to himself in Spanish. Jenny didn’t understand why the patient was angry, and from that point on avoided working with Hispanic patients.

What do you think happened here?