Abstract

IBARRA MENDOZA, Teresa Ximena  and  GONZALEZ, José Siles. Cultural competence: a humane form of offering Nursing Care. Index Enferm [online]. 2006, vol.15, n.55, pp.44-48. ISSN 1699-5988.

The current social dynamics require that the Nursing treatment becomes a permanent challenge, as it has to consider the values, beliefs and practices of the individuals that are under its care, as much as it has to manifest respect for the differences when the attention is being offered. The present paper is intended to expose the dimensions that the Nursing Professional should consider when offering treatment, given the incidence in the cultural diversity of the human groups under the perspective of the cultural competence. In the development of this work, cultural diversity is defined as a valuation element in Nursing and the constructs that the model includes in order to acquire the cultural competence. The development of these points is from where it can be understood the role of the Nursing Professional under the transcultural dimension, keeping always as a reference that, in order to offer Quality Nursing Caring, the professional must have knowledge, sensitivity and the attitude for collaborating in it. The acceptance and respect of the cultural differences, the sensitiveness for understanding how these differences influence in the interpersonal relationships, and the ability to offer strategies for improving the cultural encounters, are essential requisites for the consolidation of the transcultural Nursing Care.