The nurse manager works on a unit where staff are uncomfortable caring for clients from cultures different from their own. Which action would address this problem?

• A. Plan a workshop that offers opportunities to learn about the cultures the nurses might encounter while at work.
• B. Ignore staff concerns and proceed as usual.
• C. Reassign all culturally diverse patients to other units.
• D. Discipline staff who express concerns about culture.

Answer: (A)

Addressing staff discomfort with patients from cultures different from their own hinges on building cultural competence through education and practice. A workshop that provides opportunities to learn about the cultures nurses might encounter helps them understand diverse beliefs, health practices, and communication styles, and it also offers skills for delivering respectful, patient-centered care. This kind of training reduces bias, enhances communication with patients and families, and increases confidence in providing safe, effective care across cultural differences. It creates a foundation for ongoing growth rather than a one-time fix.

Ignoring staff concerns misses a chance to improve care and morale. Reassigning culturally diverse patients to other units limits access to care and can be discriminatory. Disciplining staff for expressing concerns without offering learning and growth opportunities does not address the underlying need for competence and can erode trust.