Introduction
It is true that culture is a major influencing factor in the treatment and care of patients, especially those with mental issues. The aspect of culture, including beliefs, values, and rites, plays a significant role in all stages of healthcare delivery, from planning to analyzing patient outcomes. All healthcare professionals, especially Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs), should consider it when organizing and implementing nursing practices. “Cultural competence” helps medical specialists to understand fully how a patient’s cultural background affects the process of provision of health services (Mollah et al., 2018, p. 2). A culturally competent nurse is a medical professional who applies skills such as “flexibility, reflexive thinking, and a commitment to professional development” to implement and sustain a culturally sensitive treatment (Mollah et al., 2018, p. 4). This approach was developed in response to health disparities between ethnic and racial groups and increased multiculturalism in the western hemisphere.
Cultural Features and Planning
Different cultures sometimes have opposite meanings of what mental illnesses are and what causes them. As an intrinsic part of a culture, religion contributes to the formation of many beliefs, both true and false. For example, some people of Hispanic descent, especially religious ones, believe that mental disorders like depression are of spiritual origin and not psychosocial (Caplan, 2019). Knowing this enables APNs to develop coping methods based on religious practices and design a mental health promotion plan that engages churches to educate local Hispanic communities on psychological issues and well-being. Moreover, nursing professionals practicing in medical facilities near Polish communities should consider incorporating spirituality as a component of psychotherapy (Charzyńska & Heszen-Celińska, 2020). Cultural awareness influences medical practices as much as culture itself.
References
Caplan, S. (2019). Intersection of cultural and religious beliefs about mental health: Latinos in the faith-based setting. Hispanic Health Care International, 17(1), 4-10.
Charzyńska, E., & Heszen-Celińska, I. (2020). Spirituality and mental health care in a religiously homogeneous country: Definitions, opinions, and practices among Polish mental health professionals. Journal of Religion and Health, 59(1), 113-134.
Mollah, T. N., Antoniades, J., Lafeer, F. I., & Brijnath, B. (2018). How do mental health practitioners operationalise cultural competency in everyday practice? A qualitative analysis. BMC Health Services Research, 18(1), 1-12.