Minnesota Nurses Association hosts conference on cultural diversity

With a population becoming increasingly more diverse, members of the Minnesota Nurses Association have prepared a conference to address cross-cultural issues in the workplace. The program is designed to provide health care providers with new insights in working with colleagues and patients from a diversity of ethnic backgrounds.

The one-day program is scheduled for April 23, and will be held at the Sheraton Minneapolis West in Minnetonka.

Planners hope the conference will equip attendees with new methods that could help address a critical nursing shortage facing the health care industry. ‘It is important for all nurses to feel welcome in this environment, regardless of their cultural background,’ said MNA member Robin Moede, RN. ‘We must learn to be proactive in our relationships with our peers, support each other and keep each other thriving in the profession.’

‘Nursing in Minnesota is 90 percent white female,’ Moede added. ‘How do we make sure that nurses who are the other 10% are supported in their practice? MNA is being a leader in discussing the issue at this conference.’

‘Bridging the Culture Gap: Nursing in an Ethnically Diverse Workplace’ will explore a wide range of aspects of cross-cultural interactions, including how health care workers deal with differences in language, customs, expectations and behavior.

Keynote speaker for the program is Dr. Josepha Campinha-Bacote, an internationally renowned speaker on issues concerning transcultural health care. Campinha-Bacote encourages others to take the plunge in expanding one’s cultural experiences. ‘Learning how to work with people from backgrounds other than your own can be demanding, challenging and ultimately rewarding,’ states Campinha-Bacote. She advances the image of a scale that marks individual abilities to deal with different cultures, calling it a ‘Cultural Competency’ model.

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The day’s agenda is packed with an additional wealth of tools for attendees. One seminar includes a discussion of health care values across cultures. A panel of Native American, Hmong and Hispanic nurses will offer insights about customs that impact both patients and care providers. Another seminar will focus on empowering immigrants for successful employment.

Closing speaker for the program is popular speaker Tou Ger Xiong. Xiong uses humor, folklore, movement and rap music in one, high-energy presentation that leaves audiences reflecting about their own beliefs and actions.

Though designed for health care providers, the event is open to the community. Tuition for the program is $120 for MNA members and $155 for non-members. Registration fees include luncheon. A group rate is available. More details about the conference and interactive registration are available on line at www.mnnurses.org.

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