Increasing cultural competence with the Latino community

There is growing recognition among health professionals that being familiar with the culture of a particular group and developing effective partnerships to involve group members in the production of their own health are essential strategies to promote health. Moreover, it is increasingly recognized that providing health care services that are culturally sensitive can result in improved health status for clients. This article describes selected Latino cultural customs that can enhance a nurse's ability to work sensitively and effectively with this ethnic group. Creative strategies to increase the cultural competence of nurses involved in primary care settings are also presented.