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Ask the expert: Provide cultural education to staff

Staff Development Weekly: Insight on Evidence-Based Practice in Education, April 3, 2009

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This week, Adrianne Avillion, DEd, RN, recommends ways to design cultural diversity education.

Q: I want to acknowledge the different cultures we have here in the organization. How do I design cultural diversity education?

A: Cultural diversity is a valued component of our society. Staff development specialists teach learners who represent a variety of cultures, so educators must consider what effect culture has on learning.

Your cultural diversity programming should be practical and based on evidence that directs its design. Here are some recommendations for the design of cultural diversity education:

• Identify the most predominant cultural groups in your patient population
• Identify the most predominant cultural groups in your organization’s employee population
• Identify people who are well-versed in these cultures and in the native languages of these cultures to assist with education
• Investigate the possibility of offering English as a Second Language courses in your organization
• Include American cultural characteristics as part of your diversity training
• Prepare written guidelines for dealing with specific critical aspects of persons from cultures most frequently seen in your organization

Have a question for our evidence-based experts? Be a part of our new feature by emailing your queries to Editor Cameran Erny at cerny@hcpro.com. See your name in print and get the answers you’re looking for.

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