[hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”aboveTheFold” /][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Cultural competency is a vital skill for delivering quality nursing care across culturally diverse groups. Our guide offers tips from nursing professionals on incorporating it into nursing culture and practice.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Health disparity refers to health differences linked to economic, environmental, and social disadvantages that result in groups of people experiencing greater obstacles to health. A patient’s culture — including ethnicity and race, gender, age, class, education, religion, sexual orientation and identification, and physical abilities — have also been linked to disparities. Health equity seeks to reduce and eventually eliminate health disparities by allocating resources based on need.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Cultural awareness, diversity, and inclusivity in nursing strive to combat differences in healthcare that lead to [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1924616/#b1″ target=”_blank”]worse health outcomes[/hen-ui-link] for disadvantaged racial and ethnic groups.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]In some American regions, for example, the average life expectancy can vary by decades from one neighborhood to another. Jamil Norman, a registered nurse and nursing instructor, has found in her research that Black mothers in the U.S. are 3-4 times more likely to die in childbirth compared to white mothers. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released similar findings, estimating that [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/maternal-mortality/2021/maternal-mortality-rates-2021.htm” target=”_blank”]Black women die of maternal causes[/hen-ui-link] at 2.6 times the rate of non-Hispanic white women.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]”These health disparities for childbearing Black women have persisted despite overall improvements in pregnancy-related outcomes,” Norman says.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]This guide discusses cultural competence and how it relates to health equity in the U.S., and includes insights from nursing professionals on how both nurses and their patients can benefit from culturally competent care.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]What is Cultural Competence in Nursing?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The word “culture” refers to integrated patterns of human behaviors, including norms, traditions, and values that affect the thinking and behavior of members of particular groups. Cultural competence describes the ability to effectively interact with people belonging to different cultures.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The importance of cultural competence in nursing focuses on health equity through [hen-ui-link href=”https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22088154/” target=”_blank”]patient-centered care[/hen-ui-link], which requires seeing each patient as a unique person.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]As Gregory Knapik, DNP and assistant professor of nursing, explains, “Nurses must be able to understand and appreciate different cultural backgrounds in order to do their job effectively and with the highest degree of care.”[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4”]Norman specifies that “cultural competence is the willingness to understand and interact with people of different cultures, race, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality.”[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]This approach allows nurse professionals to successfully treat patients even when patients’ beliefs, practices, and values directly conflict with conventional medical and nursing guidelines. Nurses can develop the ability to tailor and explain treatment plans according to patients’ needs, which may be influenced by cultural practices that don’t fall within the parameters of conventional medicine.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]”Utilizing cultural competence appropriately will allow for deeper connections with patients,” says Knapik. “You will gain the trust of the patient by being empathetic to their differences and unique needs.”[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Components of Culturally Competent Care[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Culturally competent care consists of four components: awareness of one’s cultural worldview, attitudes toward cultural differences, knowledge of different cultural practices and worldviews, and cross-cultural skills. Together, these components contribute to a high degree of cultural competency, and nurses can integrate them into the care of their patients.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″ class=”text-primary-900″]Awareness[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nurses can pay close attention to their own implicit biases and how they react to people whose backgrounds and cultural experiences differ from their own. For example, a person who becomes conscious that they think of immigrants as illegal aliens achieves cultural awareness of that particular bias.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″ class=”text-primary-900″]Attitude[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Once nurses tap into awareness, they can actively analyze their increased awareness and internal belief systems. Using the above example, the person can examine their own background, beliefs, and values to better understand how they interact with others, and how those interactions might be improved to build better connections and deliver better care.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″ class=”text-primary-900″]Knowledge[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Providers should continually improve their knowledge to better understand the values, beliefs, and practices associated with the health and well-being of various cultural groups. This could include a clear understanding of local and traditional healthcare networks and systems, as well as the unique needs of the communities they serve.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″ class=”text-primary-900″]Skills[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nurses put their awareness, attitude, and knowledge into practice by repeating culturally competent behaviors until they become integrated into their daily interactions. These behaviors include effective and respectful communication and body language. Among various cultures, nonverbal communication methods, such as gestures, can mean very different things.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]These skills empower nurses to communicate in a cross-cultural context, negotiate healthcare and other service delivery, and mediate and manage conflict, among other important capabilities.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Benefits of Culturally Competent Care[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Research shows [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.aha.org/system/files/hpoe/Reports-HPOE/becoming-culturally-competent-health-care-organization.PDF” target=”_blank”]significant benefits[/hen-ui-link] resulting from culturally competent nursing care. Social benefits include fostering mutual respect, understanding, and trust; promoting inclusion and patient and family responsibilities for their health; and increasing community participation and involvement in health issues.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Health benefits include improved data collection, preventative care, cost savings, patient adherence to care recommendations, and patient health outcomes. Cultural competence can also reduce healthcare disparities and things like unfilled prescriptions or missed medical visits. This also benefits the healthcare delivery system and care providers by improving satisfaction of healthcare services received and improving the experiences of both providers and patients.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Cultural competence in nursing can be observed through the following examples:[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Using terms patients understand[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Make sure a medical interpreter is present if the patient speaks another language, asking a family member to translate may not be enough[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Respecting patients’ cultural and religious beliefs that conflict with treatment plans[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Recruiting health professionals from underserved, diverse, and LGBTQ+ communities[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Analyzing the ethnic composition demographics of patients currently served[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Identifying patients in underserved populations and communities[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Forming a committee of diverse nursing staff members to promote and coordinate [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.aha.org/system/files/hpoe/Reports-HPOE/becoming-culturally-competent-health-care-organization.PDF” target=”_blank”]cultural awareness measures[/hen-ui-link], such as signage and forms in different languages and community outreach[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Taking Steps to Improve Cultural Competence[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Beginning in the mid-1980s, health officials began developing resources and guidelines to improve culturally competent nursing care:[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The Heckler Report, also called the [hen-ui-link href=”http://archive.org/stream/reportofsecretar00usde#page/n1/mode/1up” target=”_blank”]Report on Black and Minority Health[/hen-ui-link], was released in 1985 to mobilize elimination of health disparities.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The federal [hen-ui-link href=”https://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/” target=”_blank”]Office of Minority Health[/hen-ui-link] was established in 1986 to implement the Heckler Report.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/healthy_people/hp2010.htm” target=”_blank”]Healthy People 2010[/hen-ui-link] agenda, which includes the goal of eliminating health disparities, released in 2000 with an [hen-ui-link href=”https://health.gov/healthypeople” target=”_blank”]update in 2010[/hen-ui-link].[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2000/12/22/00-32685/office-of-minority-health-national-standards-on-culturally-and-linguistically-appropriate-services” target=”_blank”]National CLAS Standards[/hen-ui-link], a 2000 federal report outlining culturally and linguistically appropriate services (CLAS) in health care, was updated in 2013.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]LEP Guidance, issued in 2000 and in 2003, addresses working with people with limited English proficiency (LEP).[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]CLAS in Nursing launched in 2024 to help nurses improve quality of care by understanding, respecting, and responding to a patient’s experiences, values, and beliefs.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.nimhd.nih.gov” target=”_blank”]National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities[/hen-ui-link]: Part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH, this institute leads and supports scientific research to improve minority health and eliminate health disparities.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]While nursing education curriculums do focus on health disparities prevalent in specific cultures and the importance of culturally competent care, Norman believes that further steps can be taken.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]”Although I believe that the profession of nursing is doing a lot, there is still more that needs to be done,” says Norman. “Until all health care disparities are eradicated, there is always more that can be done.”[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Tips for Nurses to Improve Cultural Competence[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Cultural competence in nursing helps build a more therapeutic nurse-patient relationship, which leads to better patient outcomes because patients are more likely to follow care plans that take their culture and beliefs into consideration. This guide describes how to build cultural competence in your own work and your team’s.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-list variant=”ordered” bullet-style=”check”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Change Your Perspective[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text-stack gap=”xs”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Cultural competence in nursing means understanding differences in perspective. For example, calling everyone by their first name immediately after meeting them is a friendly gesture in many parts of the United States. However, it may seem disrespectful to somebody from a culture where young people refer to elders as “Mr.” or “Ms.” Further, ask patients by which pronoun they would prefer to be addressed. Don’t assume. Ask the patient about background, practices, religion, and culture to avoid stereotyping.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]In some Asian and Hispanic cultures, family members may not want the older adults in their family to find out how sick they are when they are diagnosed. Family members fear this knowledge will make their older family members give up.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Showing respect is a fundamental part of how to build cultural competence. “Work from a place of humble partnership instead of from an imbalanced hierarchical notion of caregiver/care-recipient,” says nursing faculty member Caroline Ortiz.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-text-stack] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Share Something About Your Own Culture That May be Similar to Your Patient’s Culture[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text-stack gap=”xs”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Establishing common ground is another vital part of cultural competence in nursing. Sharing from your own experiences is often part of cultural competency training. Norman points out that “this is just a great way to build rapport with your patient, and helps to break down preconceived barriers.”[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]For example, if you are advising a patient about healthy eating, they might mention a favorite dish from their background, a dish that is not very healthy. Rather than saying not to eat it or eat less of it, share about a dish from your background that you might not want to give up, but that you now serve as a side dish rather than an entree, or you substituted ingredients to make it healthier.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-text-stack] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Learn From Your Coworkers and Colleagues[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text-stack gap=”xs”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]”Working in a place that has people with different cultures, beliefs, genders, race, and ethnicity helps to foster an environment of belonging,” Norman says. The more that an organization recognizes and treats diversity as an asset, the easier it is to learn cultural competence.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]If people feel encouraged to bring their whole selves to work, staff can develop cultural competence during all their interactions. Informal learning and employee-led initiatives can augment formal cultural competency training. “Inquire about a cultural competency department or task force,” Dr. Gregory Knapik, DNP and assistant professor of nursing, recommends.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Be sure that, as a supervisor, you respect the time and effort to learn or to teach. Avoid making people feel as though they have to be spokespeople for an entire group. For example, ask for “a Hindu perspective” from a Hindu staff member rather than “the Hindu perspective.”[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Sometimes, you need to respect that your staff member is not up for being a spokesperson at all, that they currently cannot undertake the emotional effort of educating. And that’s okay.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-text-stack] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Learn a New Language[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text-stack gap=”xs”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Learning a new language can help to address many of the language gaps in healthcare. [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7201401/” target=”_blank”]Language barriers[/hen-ui-link] have a negative impact on healthcare outcomes and on the satisfaction of both patients and providers.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]While only qualified medical interpreters should provide interpretation for [hen-ui-link href=”https://psnet.ahrq.gov/web-mm/when-patients-and-providers-speak-different-languages” target=”_blank”]patients with limited English proficiency[/hen-ui-link], learning medical vocabulary or common expressions creates a welcoming atmosphere and increases trust.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Knowing medical and healthcare vocabulary in another language also helps you understand patients or family members who might speak conversational English fluently, but be less familiar with healthcare terms.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Being multilingual is an asset for any healthcare job, especially if you speak a language widely spoken in the community, but less common among healthcare workers.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-text-stack] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Complete Continuing Nursing Education Courses[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Many organizations offer cultural competency training for healthcare workers. These include”[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Georgetown University’s National Center for Cultural Competence provides [hen-ui-link href=”https://nccc.georgetown.edu/resources/distance.php” target=”_blank”]online courses[/hen-ui-link] in how to build cultural competence with specific audiences.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The National LGTB Cancer Network offers [hen-ui-link href=”https://cancer-network.org/cultural-competency-training/” target=”_blank”]cultural competency training[/hen-ui-link] for oncology professionals.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Reach Out to Clergy to Understand Different Faiths in Your Community[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text-stack gap=”xs”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Clergy can provide valuable insights into faith communities and how different faiths perceive issues related to health. These perceptions may affect treatment plans or delivery.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]For example, imams (Muslim clergy) can provide guidance on how to work with patients who wish to fast for Ramadan, but should not because of health considerations.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Similarly, understanding the Amish belief that the heart is the “soul of the body” can help healthcare workers communicate about heart health to Amish communities. Being able to speak about a faith with knowledge and respect will strengthen communication with patients.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-text-stack] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Seek Out Opportunities to Work With Local Community Leaders or Organizations[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text-stack gap=”xs”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Partnerships with local community leaders and organizations can help build your cultural competence in nursing and establish relationships that lead to stronger relationships. For example, your organization might invite leaders of community organizations to give a talk at your workplace about a particular group and its perceptions and needs.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]This lecture series can lead to building partnerships for health education and health promotion, encouraging speakers of a language to become medical interpreters, or other ways to enhance trust and empathy.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Cultural competence in nursing builds a virtuous cycle of improved reputation and trust, leading to better health outcomes.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-text-stack] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-accordion variant=”no-background” controls=”false”] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”Sources”] [hen-ui-text-stack gap=”sm”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Cultural competency training (n.d.) [hen-ui-link href=”https://cancer-network.org/cultural-competency-training/” target=”_blank”]https://cancer-network.org/cultural-competency-training/[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Distance learning (n.d.) [hen-ui-link href=”https://nccc.georgetown.edu/resources/distance.php” target=”_blank”]https://nccc.georgetown.edu/resources/distance.php[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Education. (n.d.). https://thinkculturalhealth.hhs.gov/education[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Karliner, Leah S. (2018). When patients and providers speak different languages. [hen-ui-link href=”https://psnet.ahrq.gov/web-mm/when-patients-and-providers-speak-different-languages” target=”_blank”]https://psnet.ahrq.gov/web-mm/when-patients-and-providers-speak-different-language[/hen-ui-link]s[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Shamsi, Hilal Al et al. (2020). Implications of language barriers for healthcare: a systematic review. [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7201401/” target=”_blank”]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7201401/[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-text-stack] [/hen-ui-accordion-item][/hen-ui-accordion][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Meet Our Contributors[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”lg”][hen-ui-expert-bio name=”Jamil Norman, Ph.D., RN, CNE” img-src=”https://res.cloudinary.com/highereducation/image/upload/c_fill,h_300,w_300,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto:eco/e_grayscale/v1606758971/experts/Jamil_Norman.jpg” img-alt=”Jamil Norman, Ph.D., RN, CNE” layout=”horizontal” background=”white” /][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”text-gray-700″]Jamil Norman, Ph.D., RN, CNE, and academic coordinator for Walden University’s RN-to-BSN program, has more than 16 years of experience as a registered nurse and 12 years in higher education. Her areas of expertise include nursing research and women’s health nursing. At Walden, Dr. Norman teaches foundations of nursing research and topics in clinical nursing.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”lg”][hen-ui-expert-bio name=”Caroline Ortiz, MSN, MPH, RN, NC-BC” img-src=”https://res.cloudinary.com/highereducation/image/upload/c_fill,h_300,w_300,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto:eco/e_grayscale/v1606256524/experts/Caroline_Ortiz.jpg” img-alt=”Caroline Ortiz, MSN, MPH, RN, NC-BC” layout=”horizontal” background=”white” /][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”text-gray-700″][hen-ui-link href=”https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pacificcollege.edu%2Fabout%2Ffaculty%2Fortiz-caroline-e-msn-mph-rn-nc-bc&data=04%7C01%7Cabryant%40highereducation.com%7C1c603703f2cd4143e7e608d88d6ed513%7C4289d6102cfd46218c9644a1518ddb0a%7C0%7C1%7C637414854460903049%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C2000&sdata=JLQWxnUHfyTgHyxdbhmjZ5QiTHPJPXVNjho34nzaC9Q%3D&reserved=0″ target=”_blank”]Caroline Ortiz[/hen-ui-link] (MSN, MPH, RN, NC-BC) has 24+ years of nursing experience, combining holistic health approaches with conventional medical care. She is on the faculty of [hen-ui-link href=”https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pacificcollege.edu%2F&data=04%7C01%7Cabryant%40highereducation.com%7C1c603703f2cd4143e7e608d88d6ed513%7C4289d6102cfd46218c9644a1518ddb0a%7C0%7C1%7C637414854460903049%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C2000&sdata=JHUTl0rCPvE%2BHBsYN1wy2k2RtGRSS%2Frmdh4YmqvQGQY%3D&reserved=0″ target=”_blank”]Pacific College of Health and Science’s[/hen-ui-link] Holistic Nursing Program and is a Ph.D. candidate investigating the traditional healing practices of Mexican-American women.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”lg”][hen-ui-expert-bio name=”Dr. Gregory Knapik, PMHCNS-BC, ANP-PC” img-src=”https://res.cloudinary.com/highereducation/image/upload/v1/NurseJournal.org/nj-logo-hi-res.png?cld_params=e_grayscale?_a=BAMCcSOY0″ img-alt=”Dr. Gregory Knapik, PMHCNS-BC, ANP-PC” layout=”horizontal” background=”white” /][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”text-gray-700″]Dr. Gregory Knapik is an assistant professor of nursing at Notre Dame College (NDC) in South Euclid, Ohio. He has been in healthcare for over 30 years and received his Ph.D. in nursing from Kent State University. He holds a doctor of nursing (ND) from Case Western Reserve University as well as two advanced certifications in PMHCNS-BC and ANP-PC. Prior to joining NDC, Knapik taught [hen-ui-link href=”/articles/common-courses-you-will-take-for-your-rn-degree/”]nursing courses[/hen-ui-link] at Kent State University, the University of Akron, and Walsh University. Currently, he teaches community health, mental health nursing, [hen-ui-link href=”/careers/public-health-nurse//how-to-become/”]holistic nursing[/hen-ui-link], and global nursing at NDC. Over his teaching career, he has traveled to Central America many times with his students to learn cultural competency in a deep, immersive way.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-flex]