| Learning Objective #1: Define Health Disparities and the societal impact it has on minority populations | |||
| Learning Objective #2: Identify three strategies nurses and nurse leaders can use in addressing the needs of minority patients |
It is these areas that we seen 1-2X the death rate among certain populations when compared to white patients admitted with the same illness or condition. The health of the country is related to the health of its population and it is from minority populations that the next generation of healthcare workers will emerge and become leaders within the nursing and healthcare professions.
Purpose:
The purpose of this presentation is to increase the awareness among nurses and nursing leaders of the importance of addressing the issue of health disparities as well as to determine the leadership role(s) that nursing must play in the addressing of this national health problem.
Intervention: A Cross-Cultural Education Program was developed using Capinha-Bacote's Model of Cultural Competence. This model defines the process of cultural competence in the delivery of healthcare services as the “process in which the healthcare professional continually strives to achieve the ability and availability to effectively work within the cultural context of the client (family, individual, or community)”.
Discussion: Nursing professionals with an increased knowledge of the effects of health disparities in minority populations will lead to an examination of personal beliefs and practices that may or may not add to the poorer health outcomes seen in these populations. Nursing leaders will gain a deeper appreciation for the experiences of their diverse employees and the knowledge they bring to the clinical encounter.