What it means
An attitude rather than a body of knowledge. It accepts that no one can fully know another person's culture, so the nurse stays curious, asks rather than assumes, admits mistakes and keeps learning. It also means noticing the power difference between health care workers and clients and working to share decisions.
For the nurse
Ask open questions such as "What is important to you about your care?" and let the client's answers guide the plan.
Related terms
holistic care
Care that looks after the whole person: body, mind, emotions, relationships and spiritual needs.
cultural sensitivity
Being aware of and respecting cultural differences in beliefs, values and practices, without judging them.
cultural awareness
Knowing one's own cultural values, beliefs and biases, and that others may see things differently.