Cultural Diversity: A Travel Nurse’s Perspective
On my drive in to work this past week, I was listening to yet another podcast. In it, the topic of discussion was immigration and cultural diversity in America. The point I found most interesting was when the podcast hosts said that our country was quickly approaching a time when the MAJORITY would be the MINORITIES. Within maybe two decades, they said our countries ethnic makeup would be even more diverse than it is now. Now I’m going to try to avoid getting too political on the topic, at least here, but it is a subject I find both interesting and believe is important especially for those in the healthcare industry.
First, I did try to fact check the statement. Currently, US Census Bureau estimated in the 2019 census that around 60% of US citizens identified as white alone. Meaning the remaining percentage is comprised of black/African American, American Indian. Asian, Pacific Islander, Hispanic/Latino, or biracial. Now I am far from am expert on cultural anthropology or sociology, but I am a little skeptical these numbers and definitions give a 100% accurate depiction of our countries ethnic makeup. Even so, let’s just run with the numbers for now. It’s evident that our nation is becoming more culturally diverse, and for those of us in the healthcare industry, that is a fact worth being aware.
For one, cultural competence is a core skill for all healthcare practitioners. We learned it in nursing school, there are a LOT of cultures with very distinct considerations. Even formal schooling cannot teach you everything you need to be 100% culturally competent. And depending on what area you live/work in, as well as your travel experiences (or lack thereof), developing cultural awareness can be a daunting task. As an example, for the first 20 years of my life, I found myself surrounded by people similar to me. Same tastes, same ethnic backgrounds, often same socioeconomic status, you get the picture. It wasn’t until college I began to really experience different cultural perspectives. I loved and welcomed the experience, yet also couldn’t help but feel incompetent and unprepared to interact with a world full of diverse populations.
Fast forward to now, and I am still actively developing cultural competence. I’ve had more experience meeting and learning from people of other cultures, yet am aware that there is still so much I do not yet know. In the healthcare setting, our most basic role is as caregiver for those in need. Patients with all types of backgrounds, and all types of stories. Similarly, those we work alongside (especially when working as a travel nurse) may come from backgrounds very different than our own. Thus, cultural competence plays a key role in our line of work, both with direct patient care, as well as our interprofessional relationships.
Working with a diverse population can sometimes feel uncomfortable, especially when there are obvious barriers such as language, religion, diet or any other aspect of culture that could potentially divide us. In my limited experience, the best way to approach such instances is with open communication. Ask questions. Offering a chance to exchange information by saying something as simple as “Could you tell me a little about you and your cultural background? I just don’t want to be inadvertently insensitive or ignorant.” Even then, it can be a difficult dialogue to start, but I believe sharing that perspective can be really beneficial to both parties in the long run.
