Transcultural communication: the cornerstone of culturally competent care

Cultural diversity will continue to expand in the "great melting pot"--the United States of America. The ability of the nurse to foster transcultural communication will remain a very real challenge in rendering culturally competent health care. Accepting differences in people and displaying a nonjudgmental attitude are essential for the nurse to communicate successfully across different cultural groups. In conclusion, nurses must be engaged in a dynamic dialogue to ameliorate transcultural communication, avoid language barriers, and employ approaches to enhance nurse-patient rapport.