Cultural competence

Community nurses work with individuals and groups in contexts that vary from rural and remote communicies ro metropolitan and inner-city contexts. The clients that nurses work with have unique values, attitudes, beliefs and understandings about health. As a result, nurses need to be innovative and resourceful in harnessing human and material resources and infrastructure to good effect. Working in diverse community environments can be both challenging and rewarding for a professional nurse. It is important that nurses display cultural competency in their professional practice. Cultural competency requires sensitivity to different cultural beliefs and practices. Nurses also need to be aware of rhe social factors that influence the environment in which they work. Pockets of Australia's population are disadvantaged as a result of poverty, underemployment and unemployment, illiteracy, gender, malnutrition, disempowerment and racial discrimination (Doolan, Mills, & Francis, 2008; McMurray & Param, 2008). These social factors, as well as the federal government's commitment ro equity for all Australians regarding healthcare, are shaping modern nursing practice. The diversity of Australia's population also influences contemporary nursing practice. Using a primary healthcare (PH C) approach, this chapter presents relevant ideology ro manage and guide practice that is culturally competent. Determinants of health that impact on the population, and current government and health and welfare initiatives aimed at enhancing health and wellbeing outcomes are both discussed. The role of nurses in supporting, advocating and enabling communities to achieve self-determinism is considered in this chapter, as are the challenges that nurses face in practising in rural and remote communities.