We are already a culturally diverse country and we continue to become increasingly moreso with new immigrants arriving and those already here raising families. However, healthcare providers still largely come from a white background - almost 82%. Unfamiliar languages, beliefs, cultural practices, eating habits, etc., all present potential obstacles to the nurse providing care.

This three-part series has been updated with new and current information and a more engaging look to help the nurse effectively recognize the challenges faced in providing care to a multicultural population and develop strategies to address these needs. All programs are CC and available individually as well as a series.

CULTURAL AWARENESS IN HEALTHCARE: An Action Plan
The objectives of this program are:
*Explain the importance of providing culturally and linguistically appropriate care.
*Describe the CLAS standards put forth by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
*Describe the 3 categories within the CLAS standards: Culturally Aware Care, Language Access, and Organizational Support.
*Explain how to establish and implement an action plan that recognizes and enforces the CLAS standards.

CULTURAL AWARENESS IN HEALTHCARE: Understanding the Need
The objectives of this program are:
*Describe the importance of cultural awareness in the healthcare field.
*Explain some of the cultural differences that exist among patient populations
*Describe some of the major cultural awareness studies that have been completed over the past 60 years
*Explain the components of several key models that are designed to foster cultural awareness within the healthcare system.

CULTURAL AWARENESS IN HEALTHCARE: Your Practice
The objectives of this program are:
*Describe the importance of providing culturally and linguistically appropriate care.
*Explain key, specific ways that you can take to ensure that you provide appropriate care to different ethnic groups, including people from Eastern Europe, The Middle East, Asia, and Latin America.