Cultural Competency Education at Meridian Health

Meridian Health is a leading not-for-profit health care organization in New Jersey, comprised of six hospitals, nursing and rehabilitation centers and outpatient centers. At Meridian Health, 17 percent of patients are from racially and ethnically diverse groups. Knowledge of cultural customs enables Meridian nurses to offer better care and avoid misunderstandings. Most importantly, this knowledge provides the foundation for specific assessments of individual patients, families and communities, allowing staff to move beyond 'one-size-fits-all' approaches toward the provision of culturally competent care. Care that is congruent with patient?s cultural background and expectations is imperative for positive patient outcomes. To empower its nurses to provide culturally competent care, Meridian?s Cultural Ambassador program was implemented in 2011. The goals of the program are to: build positive nurse-patient relationships; increase nurses? confidence to understand the cultural context of health behaviors; and increase sensitivity and learn cultural nuances associated with the decision-making process and health care preferences. Through numerous workshops, as well as one-on-one support from trained nurses, Meridian?s Cultural Ambassador program continues to have a positive impact on delivering culturally competent, sensitive and effective care to patients, as well as improved intercultural communication between employees.