Learning Objective #1: Describe the positive cultural connection that African American registered nurses experience when caring for patients, specifically African American patients

Learning Objective #2: Discuss how the nursing profession might use knowledge about cultural connections to educate other nurses to improve intercultural awareness, communication, and cultural competence

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An understanding of the unique contributions that nurses from culturally diverse backgrounds, specifically African American registered nurses, make to improving patient health care outcomes may strengthen and broaden nursing care practices. It may affect nursing and health care delivery in ways that eliminate health care disparities experienced by culturally diverse patients. The purposes of this presentation are to (a) describe the positive cultural connecting that African American registered nurses experience in the clinical setting, and to (b) discuss how the nursing profession can use the cultural knowledge and skills of the culturally diverse nurse to educate other nurses to improve intercultural awareness, communication, and culturally competent nursing care. Emphasis will be placed on the theme “connecting with the patient” which emerged as an essential theme in the qualitative study of the lived experience of African American Registered Nurses conducted by this author. This theme described the cultural bond and sense of closeness that the nurses experienced when they provided nursing care, especially to African American patients. Connecting with the patient was a total experience that considered the patient's culturally diverse background, spirituality and religion, and wholistic life orientation. Subsuming themes that described the essence or nature of connecting with the patient included (a) wholism, (b) cultural diversity, (c) spirituality and religion, and (d) respect and communication. Other subsuming themes, which described the nurse's role in connecting with the patient included (a) caring, (b) teaching, and (d) advocacy. Participants will learn how the nursing profession can capitalize on the special position and connection that African American registered nurses have with African American patients, encourage, and foster the development of their role as patient advocates and brokers. Ultimately, this presentation will assist educators, researchers, and clinicians to raise awareness about the impact of diversity on health and nursing care delivery.