Geri-Ann Galanti argues that if the goal of the American medical system is to provide optimal care for all patients, health-care providers must understand cultural differences that create conflicts and misunderstandings and that can result in inferior medical care. This new edition includes five new chapters and 172 case studies of actual conflicts that occurred in American hospitals.

How do you perceive your cultural identity? All of us are shaped by the cultures we interact with and the cultural backgrounds and ethnicities that are part of our heritage. Take a dynamic approach to the study of culture and health care relationships. Dr. Marilyn A. Ray shows us how cultures influence one another through inter-cultural relationships, technology, globalization, and mass communication, and how these influences directly shape our cultural identities in today’s world. She integrates theory, practice, and evidence of transcultural caring to show you how to apply transcultural awareness to your clinical decision making. Go beyond common stereotypes using a framework that can positively impact the nurse-patient relationship and the decision-making process. You’ll learn how to deliver culturally competent care through the selection and application of transcultural assessment, planning and negotiation tools for interventions.

Build your intercultural communication skills to ensure the best possible patient outcomes. Includes DVD with dramatizations of realistic health-care scenarios. Cultural Competency Skills for Health Professionals teaches techniques for meeting the challenges of working with culturally diverse patients and their families. The skills that health professionals and students acquire through using this workbook will improve their communication and problem-solving abilities when working across cultures. Cultural Competency Skills for Health Professionals approaches intercultural issues in health care from the perspective of communication. It sharpens your ability to understand the messages and information being communicated by patients and their families. The workbook provides eight learning modules based on realistic health-care scenarios, along with exercises and self-assessment tools. The modules include high-quality video dramatizations and worksheets, and cover topics including: Traditional roles of family care. Cultural issues in obtaining consent. Cultural issues in compliance. Language diversity in health care. Generational views on personal directives. Cultural issues in end-of-life care. Challenging cultural norms. Cultural influence in family decision-making.