Building a rapport with patients is one of the key contributors to compliance and continuation of care. Health is not merely the absence of illness but it is a spectrum of a person’s lived experience. Social economic factors, and the environment that one grows in play a big role in a person’s outlook of health. Often times a patient can relate better to a nurse that looks like them and “the shared life experiences between these nurses and minority patients position the nurses to better understand the patient’s culture, facilitate patient-provider communication, and establish partnerships that would, in turn, improve patient care outcomes” (Degazon & Mancha, 2012). Not only can a physical connection make a difference within minority patient but also speaking in their native language can result in a better communication. Often times it is the nurses that grew up in urban communities that consider it a civic duty to give back but as health professionals it should be a group effort.

This is to say that non-ethnic nurses can likewise cause change with minority patients and ultimately there should not be an existential separation of care. All nurses should strive to provide the best quality of care to all patients by placing their safety and needs as priority. Based on this conviction “racial/ethnic minority nurses should not bear the responsibility of addressing health disparities in isolation, or alone for that matter” (Phillips & Malone, 2014). Increasing diversity in nursing should not be the sole contributor to changing bias in the field but it can start traction. The contribution of ethnic nurses to healthcare disparities should simply be acknowledge but the responsibility to engage minority patient’s is widespread and inclusive.

As health advocates all nurses should strive to be culturally sensitive to their patient’s needs and be mindful of the many obstacles that can accompany that patient’s plan of care. Addressing all the extrinsic factors that many minority patients encounter can enhance compliance and future health outcomes. Acknowledging the need for inclusion is the first step towards closing the gap. As the population demographic changes there is a greater need for diversity. Providing cultural competency classes for student nurses can help steer progression in the right direction. Until diversity within healthcare is more widespread the duty lies within all healthcare members.

Reference:

Degazon, C. E., & Mancha, C. (2012). Changing the Face of Nursing Reducing Ethnic and Racial Disparities in Health. Family Community Health, 35(1), 5-14. doi: 10.1097/FCH.0b013e3182385cf6

Phillips, J. M., & Malone, B. (2014). Increasing Racial/Ethnic Diversity in Nursing to Reduce Health Disparities and Achieve Health Equity. Public Health Reports, 129(1_suppl2), 45-50. doi:10.1177/00333549141291s209