Self Awareness In Health Care

When discussing the health care systems, it is essential to identify and confront any possible biases or preconceived connotations that one may have toward a specific sex/race/religion. The goal of taking this Cultural Diversity class is to be able to consider yourself culturally competent. Cultural Competence in healthcare includes knowledge, skills, and attitudes that all assist in the quality of care that is provided among different cultures. It is normal to have a bias toward a specific category of people, however, it is crucial that you are self aware of this bias so that you can adjust the way you deliver care to your patient. One of the key factors in becoming culturally competent is self awareness. Once one is self aware, the quality …show more content…
In theory, following this model will help me become closer to being culturally competent. This model includes aspects involving cultural awareness, cultural knowledge, cultural skill, cultural encounters and cultural desires. Cultural Awareness is being aware of any potential biases that one may have toward a cultural group. I believe that even by writing this paper I am making myself aware of my bias. By being aware of this bias I am able to control my actions and different assumptions I would make outside of the health word. However, since I am aware of this problem I will push myself even harder to treat every single African American male with the same equality and respect that I would give to a white woman. Cultural knowledge involves seeking out information that pertains to a specific culturally diverse group. By learning more about the specific group, I will be able to become more familiar with any health related practices, values, and diseases that are specifically centered on this group. With this new found knowledge I will be able to assist in caring for my patients without overstepping any values or practices that are important to them. In my situation, if I can learn more about diseases and values that most African American men have then I will be able to relate and offer advice to them more clearly without confusion. Cultural Skill is the ability to adapt in treatment and diagnosis based on the specific patient. When assessing an African American Man I must take their skin color into consideration. For diagnosing diseases different skin colors may affect the treatment that is needed. In this situation being aware that this man is a different skin color will potentially help me assess what is wrong with him. This is also an example of how it is sometimes essential to