OMH to Help Nurses Provide Culturally Competent Care

The U. S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Minority Health today released a new accredited continuing education program for nursing professionals that has been endorsed by the American Nurses Association (ANA). Entitled Culturally Competent Nursing Care: A Cornerstone of Caring and provided at no cost, this course is designed to help nurses integrate cultural competency awareness, knowledge, and skills to more effectively treat increasingly diverse patient populations.

According to Garth N. Graham, M.D., deputy assistant secretary for minority health, nurses spend more time in direct patient care than any other group of health professionals, and as such, are in a unique position to bridge the health care gap by providing culturally competent care.

"The Office of Minority Health is excited to present this free curriculum to help nurses provide the highest quality care to their increasingly diverse patient populations," Dr. Graham said. "Nurses have a key role in eliminating health disparities among our nation's most vulnerable populations, and this course empowers them with skills and knowledge to enhance the care they provide."

Culturally Competent Nursing Care: A Cornerstone of Caring is a Web-based training course available at www.thinkculturalhealth.org. The course features video-based case studies and interactive tools that can be completed ‘anytime and anywhere' to accommodate busy nurses. This program is the newest addition to the Office of Minority Health's portfolio of educational programs designed to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in health.

Accredited for up to nine hours through the American Nurses Credentialing Center, Culturally Competent Nursing Care: A Cornerstone of Caring was developed through input from national leaders in cultural competency and nursing education. It was reviewed by practicing nurses across the country and is endorsed by the American Nurses Association. Nurses can now complete the entire curriculum, or any combination of its three components, which are focused on culturally competent care, language access services, and organizational supports for cultural competency.

"Providing effective and respectful nursing care to our country's increasingly diverse population is of paramount importance to the ANA. The OMH curriculum offers nurses the most comprehensive program regarding culturally competent nursing care" said Rebecca M. Patton, president of the ANA.

For more information, please e-mail contact@thinkculturalhealth.org.