Reflective Account of Cultural Safety in Healthcare

Running head: REFLECTION
Professional aspect of Nursing
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1REFLECTION
Introduction- A commonly used term is cultural safety that is defined as an
environment that is socially, emotionally, physically, and spiritually safe for all people
(Rowan et al., 2013). Thus, a culturally safe environment is one where there is no denial,
challenge, or assault of the identity of the person, and of the demands and preferences
(Funston, 2013). This essay will be a reflective account of cultural safety from the
perspective of a healthcare professional.
Reflection- In New Zealand, cultural competency refers to the operative nursing
practice of an individual or clan from a different culture that is determined by that being or
family (Giles, Hognestad & Brooks, 2015). I began working in the healthcare domain as a
registered nurse, with a keen interest in cultural safety. According to Pauly, McCall, Browne,
Parker and Mollison (2015) one important role of all healthcare professionals is to display an
ability to demonstrate cultural competence towards all service users, regardless of their
beliefs, values, feelings, and opinions. During my placement, I encountered an incident where
I had to assist a senior in caring for a patient who belonged to the indigenous population.
However, my senior held some stereotypic views for the indigenous people and considered it
a waste of time to treat them. This stereotype is commonly faced by them and often fosters
prejudice, thus acting as a barrier in the implementation of a culturally safe environment
(Kirmayer, 2013).
I became aware of how narratives related to past colonisation lead to these
stereotypes, followed by subsequent discrimination and prejudice. I tried to implement it in
my future practice, with the aim of respecting, recognising and nurturing the exclusive
cultural identity of my patients. Another incident related to cultural safety occurred the next
year while working with patients who belonged to the Maori community, and were drug
addicts. Castro, Van Regenmortel, Vanhaecht, Sermeus and Van Hecke (2016) opined that
patient empowerment refers to the way by which healthcare professionals assist patients to