A nurse is telling a new mother from Africa that she shouldn't carry her baby in a sling created from a large rectangular cloth.

The African woman tells the nurse that everyone in Mozambique carries babies this way.

The nurse believes that bassinets are safer for infants. What is this scenario an example of?

Folk medicine is not a standard practice in the North American Healthcare system.

Standard practices in the North American Healthcare system include private health insurance, federal government health insurance programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, and a focus on improving health and preventing disease1.

Choice A is not correct because punctuality is considered a standard practice in many professional settings, including healthcare.

Choice C is not correct because handwashing is a standard practice in healthcare to prevent the spread of infection.

Choice D is not correct because annual exams are a standard practice in healthcare for preventative care and early detection of health issues.

The action that best demonstrates cultural competence is for the nurse to ask the clients what matters most to them in their illness and treatment.

Cultural competence describes the ability to effectively interact with people belonging to different cultures.

The importance of cultural competence in nursing focuses on health equity through patient-centered care, which requires seeing each patient as a unique person1.

Choice B is not the correct answer because telling clients that they should not continue taking herbs does not demonstrate cultural competence.

Choice C is not the correct answer because asking clients if they utilize shaman does not demonstrate cultural competence.

Choice D is not the correct answer because telling clients that they should follow the provider’s orders does not demonstrate cultural competence.