Cultural Humility, Essay Example

Introduction

Cultural humility is a critical component of identifying with the challenges and vulnerabilities of people across the globe. If a group experiences adversity within their own community, they are likely to relate to others throughout the world who experience their own form of adversity within their surroundings. This is not always the case, however, and this practice requires some degree of maturity and realization that another person’s circumstances in a remote community may even be more difficult than one’s own. This is an important reminder of the development of new perspectives regarding cultural humility that will enable individuals in different nations to be cognizant of the challenges of others who face adversity and other difficult circumstances in other areas.

Analysis

Emerging as a strong global citizen also provides a basis for expanding cultural humility in the desired fashion. This is behavioral in that it requires a strong sense of self in order to understand cultural competence and how it impacts patient care (Romney, 2013). However, the level of skill within the healthcare system is sorely lacking in many countries, thereby creating an environment in which it is difficult to provide high quality healthcare to patients in need when the resources and cultural knowledge are not readily available (Diallo & McGrath, 2013). This is a critical factor in understanding how to become a global citizen and to recognize the inequalities that exist within the healthcare system, along with the lack of cultural competency and humility that is required to experience greater compassion for those in need throughout the world (Diallo & McGrath, 2013). It is important to identify the issues that are most relevant to vulnerable and disadvantaged populations and to recognize the impact that these conditions have on individual community members (Diallo & McGrath, 2013).

At the same time, global citizenry requires a level of commitment and practical knowledge that is not readily available, particularly as nations are not fully cognizant of the practical daily circumstances that exist within a given country (Kuger, 2011). The health of populations throughout the world requires continuous evaluation and focus so that there are sufficient opportunities to achieve growth and to be aware of the needs of patients in many different environments; at the same time, this also requires a level of focus and understanding that requires a shared approach to governing so that all many communities throughout the world will benefit from these conditions, rather than a single community (Kuger, 2011). It is important to determine how to use foreign policy wisely so that the communities with the greatest set of needs are supported by those with the tools and resources that are required to provide high level support (Kickbusch, 2011). Although there may be some resistance to the idea of developing a framework to support many communities throughout the world, it is nonetheless a welcome challenge that requires a high level commitment and focus in order to achieve the desired results (Kickbusch, 2011).

Conclusion

Organizations must utilize their resources wisely in order to emerge as effective global citizens who recognize the cultural competency and humility are critical to the success that might occur when working with others and advancing objectives to support a variety of communities in need. However, in communities where resources are sorely lacking, those providing support must be aware of their approach to communication and in recognizing how they respond to the needs of people in other countries in an effective manner. This practice is instrumental in enabling people to be global citizens and to be aware of cultural differences as a critical component of this process.

References

Diallo, A. F., & McGrath, J. M. (2013). A Glance at the Future of Cultural Competency in Healthcare. Newborn and Infant Nursing Reviews, 13(3), 121-123.

Kickbusch, I. (2011). Global health diplomacy: how foreign policy can influence health. BMJ, 342(d3), 154.

Romney, M. (2013, November). Teaching cultural humility and competency: The integration of self into the process. In 141st APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 2-November 6, 2013). APHA.

Ruger, J. P. (2011). Global health governance as shared health governance. Journal of epidemiology and community health, jech-2009.