Client perceptions of cultural competence of community-based nurses

Cultural competence is best understood by assessing provider and client perspectives. In this descriptive quantitative study, clients assessed dimensions of nurses' cultural competence including communication, decision-making, and interpersonal style. Nurses in 7 county health departments in North Carolina assessed their own cultural competence. Sixty-nine clients completed the Interpersonal Processes of Care and 71 nurses completed the Cultural Competence Assessment. Clients perceived their nursing care to contain key components of cultural competence. Nurses rated themselves as moderate to high cultural competence. Consistencies were noted between the clients' and nurse perceptions of cultural competence. These findings contribute to the enhancement of cultural competence among community nurses.