As an in-home nurse, you probably work with clients from various cultural backgrounds, some of whom may not speak English. Whether you work with children or any other age group, take steps to strengthen your cultural competence. Doing so makes you a more well-rounded and effective nurse.

How In-Home Nurses Can Improve Their Cultural Competence

Do Your Research

Research the cultural backgrounds of newly assigned patients before meeting them for the first time. Read books, watch movies, attend cultural events, and simply talk to anyone you can within your patient’s community. Explain that you want to provide the best nursing care for your new patient and are excited to learn more about their culture. Keep the subculture factor in mind as you do your research — for example, the Hispanic community includes Cuban, Puerto Rican, Mexican, Salvadoran, and Guatemalan people among others.

Understand Your Patient’s Specific Needs

Learn about your patient’s specific needs from a sociocultural perspective, as it may make the individual more receptive to in-home nurse care. Preparing meals based on cultural foods, for example, often motivates patients to eat so they can take their medication or have the energy for physical therapy. Encourage your patient to explain anything you don’t understand or ask how care procedures can be made better in light of certain culturally-based habits or even religious views.

Maintain an Understanding Tone

Stay calm and understand that some patients are more accepting of in-home nurse care than others. This is true regardless of cultural differences but can be more severe when issues — such as language barriers — are present. You may need an interpreter; if so, remember to look at your patient and not the translator to improve your connection. There are plenty of non-verbal ways to communicate, such as nodding, touching a shoulder, or taking a hand. Maintain a sense of serenity and calm to ease any apprehension on your patient’s part so the person trusts you.

If you are an in-home nurse interested in a rewarding career in pediatrics, contact us at J&D Ultracare in Suffern, NY. We proudly provide pediatric home care services to little patients throughout Orange County, Westchester County, Hudson Valley, White Plains, Monroe, and the Bronx; we earned the National Quality Approval stamp from The Joint Commission. Call us today at (845) 357-4500 or visit our website to learn about career opportunities. Also, enjoy helpful nursing tips by liking the Facebook page.