"Chunky stew:" appreciating cultural diversity while providing health care for children

The United States does not have as clear a generalized culture as more homogenous nations. For this reason, cultural competence is an important goal of nursing practice. Culture and ethnicity affect access to care and use of health care services. The cultural biases of the health care system must be acknowledged so that nurses can dialogue effectively with families who may have different perceptions. Cultural differences in the perceived meaning of illness affect both help-seeking behavior and approaches to caring and curing. Cross-cultural communication includes attention to language differences and jargon, as well as sensitivity to the family's values and preferences. Intervention plans for the child should be developed in conjunction with the family and should reflect their choices and address their concerns.