FAQS

What is the Cultural Competence Project?

The Cultural Competence Project is a grant-funded project designed to provide online and face-to-face educational offerings for nurses.  The goal is to enhance their cognitive, affective, and psychomotor cultural competencies and develop their skills in addressing individuals, groups, and communities that are diverse.  Special emphasis will be given to those at risk for health disparities.

Who is involved in this project?

The project is headed by The University of Michigan-Flint (UM-F)  in partnership with Madonna University.  Supporting members include the Transcultural Nursing Society and other organizations with missions that focus on developing cultural competencies.

What kind of educational offerings will be available?

A series of educational offerings focused on developing cultural competencies using a train-the-trainer model will be provided.  These offerings will take the form of teleconference and face-to-face sessions.

What is cultural competence?

Cultural competence is the ability to respect the beliefs, language, interpersonal styles, and behaviors of individuals, families and communities receiving services as well as the health care professionals who provide the services. Culture is the integrated patterns of human behavior that include the language, thoughts, actions, customs, beliefs, and the institutions of racial, ethnic, social, or religious groups (USDHHS, NEPR Program Guidance, 2006).

Why is cultural competence important for nursing practice?

In order to eliminate disparities in health outcomes for all segments of the population, nurses must be able to communicate with their patients/clients, understand what constitutes illness within the background of their cultures, and mutually decide upon appropriate nursing care that is evidence-based and culturally competent.

What will I learn from the train-the-trainer (TTT) program?

The TTT program has been developed to address the culture care needs of individuals, families, groups, and communities at risk for health disparities by increasing the knowledge, affective, and psychomotor cultural competencies of registered nurses.

What are my obligations if I attend a training program?

Each nurse who completes the TTT program will be asked to train a minimum number of nurses within a specified period of time. Material and resources for training other nurses will be provided during the TTT sessions and on the project website.

How will I know if I am culturally competent?

Striving to achieve cultural competence is an ongoing and sustained developmental process that requires: 1) a long-term commitment of mastery of specific knowledge and skills; and 2) constructively critical self-reflection on feelings, values, attitudes, beliefs, and motivations comprising the affective domain, including those related to prejudice, bigotry, discrimination, and racism (Andrews, HRSA grant proposal, 2007).

This website is maintained by Margaret L. Danowski, Madonna University.  Please send comments or suggestions to mdanowski@madonna.edu .  Last updated 3-12-09.