Don't underestimate the power of culture

Integrating a client's health care beliefs into the plan of care is the first step in providing culturally congruent care. Since caring is largely defined within a cultural context, knowing how clients wish to be cared for, and knowing about their culture, is paramount for the nursing profession. Transcultural nursing, a specialized area within nursing, embraces the power of culture. Transcultural nurses recognize and utilize the role of culture in the provision of culturally congruent care. By the year 2060, non-Hispanic whites are projected to comprise about half of the U.S. population (49.4%). In the year 2000, an estimated 12% of registered nurses were from an identified minority group. Therefore, it is not surprising that the culture of nursing in the United States continues to reflect the predominant values of the non-Hispanic white or Anglo-American culture. Ethnocentrism and cultural imposition must be avoided. Three major health belief systems (biomedical, naturalistic, and magico-religious) are presented with emphasis on their influential power with respect to health care practices. Underestimating the power of culture may be harmful to the health of the client.