There are an increasing number of books, tapes, workshops, and seminars that focus on the topic of cultural diversity. The practice of treating individuals with concern for their cultural differences is not new, yet many people are still very uncomfortable discussing cultural issues. Interaction with people from diverse cultures occurs daily in the health care setting as well as in the grocery store. The topic of cultural diversity in health care settings is gaining popularity as nations move into a global economy. The growth of multicultural diversity in staff and patients has widened opportunities for racial conflict and perceptions of prejudice and discrimination.
Nurse managers are in a position to move individuals and groups towards cultural sensitization.
In order to accomplish this, they must first examine the impact that their culture has had on their view of the world. Some might argue that if you just treat everyone with respect, there is no need to worry about their cultural background. However, there is not one universal way to treat everyone. People are different. They are different in how they perceive situations depending an the meaning that they attach to an event.