1. Vulnerable People in the Workplace Paper
Watson is a Nursing theorist who recognizes nursing as the art of caring and the need to treat
each patient holistically (Watson, 2007). Leininger is another Nursing theorist who realized
caring is unique and the core of nursing. According to Leininger’s Cultural Care Theory as cited
by Maier-Lorentz (2008), on Transcultural Nursing, nurses need to be aware of various cultures
and how to use this knowledge in their daily practice (Maier-Lorentz, 2008). Leininger’s
Cultural Care Theory addresses the need for cultural competency in health care. Communication
with a patient can be affected by a patient’s culture. In addition, nurses need to avoid
ethnocentric bias. In an effort to achieve a holistic approach to health care one must have an
understanding of cultural factors that may affect proposed health care interventions. Leininger’s
Cultural Care Theory can be hardwired with Watson’s Theory of Human Care to help achieve
holistic care of the patient (Leininger& McFarland, 2002). In this paper I will discuss the design
of a teaching program at my workplace to help raise awareness about vulnerable populations.
According to De Chesney and Anderson (2008), issues with vulnerability can apply to
population groups or individual people. De Chesney and Anderson (2008) discuss vulnerable
populations that are at higher risk for health issues related to socioeconomic status, cultural
issues, or environmental issues (De Chesney & Anderson, 2008). In the development of this
project, I considered focusing on the Hispanic population. However, after research on vulnerable
populations the project was focused to be broader and encompass other populations in an effort
to help caregivers understand the need to hardwire cultural competence with holistic patient care.
My workplace is focused on patient-centered care. In an effort to hardwire the concept of
patient-centeredness with cultural competence, I have developed two posters to be used in a
presentation to be given to staff on September 22, 2010 on patient-centeredness. I have partnered
with a council within my organization known as, Patient-Centered Experience Council. The
purpose of this activity is to offer information and tools to assist nurses and other health care
workers in providing care that is equitable, culturally competent, and patient-centered.
Caregivers need to realize “One Size” doesn’t fit all and how does one personalize the care
delivered to a patient and family. The objectives of the September 22, 2010 presentation are
listed below.
Objectives:
* Identify negative consequences of the economic downturn on hospital profitability
* Discuss how generational diversity affects communication and ultimately the overall patient
and family experience
* Describe the connection between patient-centered care and culturally competent care

2. * Discuss how improving relationships with patients and families, physicians, ancillary staff, and
volunteers will support goals associated with service, people, quality and finance
* Discuss key elements for creating a rewarding patient care experience
* Explain how the patient benefits from healthcare workers consistently practicing key service
behaviors on both internal and external customers
Data will be presented at this program detailing population growth within the Dallas area,
projected growth in various ethnic groups over the next 10-20 years, and the economic impact of
the population change (U.S. Census Bureau, 2006). In addition, the program will show a
crosswalk on culturally and linguistically appropriate services (CLAS); linkage with cultural
competence and meeting Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations
(JCAHO) standards of quality care (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2009).
Additionally, possessing responsibility for my organization’s float pool, a reference guide used
by my organization on various cultural beliefs has been given to each float pool staff. The float
pool staff in my organization floats to various clinical areas. The two posters on ethical cultural
competent behavior has been posted in the staffing office at my organization, and as previously
stated will be used in the program presented September 22, 2010 on patient centered care. I have
provided the nursing supervisors at my organization two articles related to cultural competence
in an effort to provide them as leaders’ information on how bias can affect quality health care.
The articles were obtained from the coarse readings at University of Phoenix; NUR/440-Health
Assessment and Promotion For Vulnerable Populations. The first article is titled, Ethnocentrism
by Ken Barger, who is in the Anthropology Department at the University of Indianapolis
(Barger, 2010). The second article is titled, Enhancing Your Professional Nursing Practice
Through Critical Reflection (Bowden, 2003). The second article provided information on Gibbs
Reflective Cycle and how one can reflect on an experience and learn from the experience. The
float pool workforce and the nursing supervisors having contact with various clinical units can be
used as mentors to other staff on various cultural competent practices.
Racial and ethnic disparities in health care exist. Bias, stereotyping and prejudice can contribute
to ethnic disparities in health care. Many minorities are faced with socioeconomic disparities that
affect access to needed health care. I am fortunate to work for a health care system that in my
opinion has a greater understanding of patient centered care and the need for cultural
competence. One must remember that an individual’s cultural background contributes to one’s
conscious and unconscious belief. In an effort to treat each patient as an individual cultural
competence must be part of one’s plan of care. Understanding each patient’s cultural will help
health care workers implement needed interventions and achieve desired health care outcomes. I
found posting the two poster presentations in the staffing office and engaging the nursing
supervisors at my facility created much needed discussion on cultural competence and how we,
as professionals can work to provide better quality care by avoiding bias and having a greater

3. understanding of different cultural beliefs. Attached separately are the two posters that are
already posted in the staffing office at my facility and that will be presented at the September 22,
2010 program on Patient-Centered Care. Jean Watson’s Theory on Human Care was used as a
reference for the two posters (Watson, 2007)
References
Barger, K. (2010).Ethnocentrism.Retrieved from University of Indianapolis
AnthropologyDepartment. http://www.iupui.edu/~anthkb/ethnocen.htm
Bowden, Shaun (2003). Enhancing Your Professional Nursing Practice Through Critical
Reflection. Abu-Dhabi Nurse. 28-31 Retrieved from
http://www.wabudhabicme.com/main/doc/nurs01c28_31.pdf
De Chesnay, M., and Anderson, B. A. (Eds.) (2008). Caring for the vulnerable: Perspectives
inNursing theory, practice, and research (2nd ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett
Leininger, M., McFarland, M. (2002). Transcultural Nursing: Concepts, Theories, Research
andPractice (3rd ed). McGraw-Hill Medical Publish Division
Maier-Lorentz, M. (2008) Transcultural Nursing: Its Importance in Nursing Practice.Journal of
Cultural Diversity 15(1). Retrieved form University of Phoenix ecampus library EBSCO
database
U.S. Census (2006). Hispanic Population Retrieved from
http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/hispanic/hispanic.htm
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2009).Cultural Competence. Retrieved from
http://www.hrsa.gov/culture competence
Watson, J. (2007). Nursing: Human Science and Human Care: A Theory of Nursing (3rd ed)