Cultural Competence and Equity in Nursing Practice

Course overview

Cultural competence is an essential component of high-quality nursing care in an increasingly diverse and complex healthcare landscape. This 4-hour continuing education course equips licensed practical nurses (LPNs), registered nurses (RNs), and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) with the knowledge and skills to deliver respectful, equitable, and inclusive care to patients from all backgrounds. The course explores key concepts including cultural humility, intersectionality, implicit bias, language access, spirituality, and systemic barriers to care. Participants will examine real-world applications through the lens of social determinants of health, ethical obligations, and emerging best practices in DEI. By the end of this course, nurses will be better prepared to foster trust, improve communication, and advocate for health equity in their daily practice. Learning Objectives By the end of this course, the participant will be able to: Define cultural competence, cultural humility, and health equity, and explain their significance in nursing practice. Identify the impact of social determinants of health, systemic racism, and implicit bias on patient outcomes. Demonstrate strategies for effective communication with patients from diverse linguistic, cultural, and spiritual backgrounds. Evaluate ethical responsibilities related to equity, inclusion, and nondiscrimination in nursing care. Apply principles of culturally and linguistically appropriate services (CLAS) to clinical practice scenarios.