Culturally sensitive communication

Abstract The world population is becoming increasingly ethnically diverse, and nurses have to be aware of the nuances of different cultures if they are to respond sensitively to diversity in contemporary society. Caring for people from other cultures can be enriching, but for many marginalized groups the experience of healthcare can be very unsatisfactory. Prejudice and discrimination seen in the wider society can extend into healthcare settings, and without appropriate training nurses may feel ill-prepared to respond in culturally aware or non-discriminatory ways. The concept of ‘otherness’ is a central strand of the professional healthcare debate about people who exist outside the boundaries of mainstream society, groups who either fail to use health services or are failed by health services. This includes people from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds, travellers, refugees, and asylum seekers. This chapter outlines ways that nurses can challenge discrimination and deliver culturally sensitive care in their everyday practice.