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 		APHA 2006 APHA
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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Providing Culturally-Appropriate Healthcare to Adolescents from Counter-Cultures

Carolyn Rutledge, PhD, CFNP, Micah Scott, MS,, CFNP, Laurel Garzon, DNSc, PNP, and Richardean Benjamin, PhD, CNS. School of Nursing, Old Dominion University, One Hampton Blvd., Norfolk, VA 23529, 757-683-5250, crutledg@odu.edu

Our society is now striving to better understand how to address issues related to teens that represent counter-cultures, such as the ever-increasing Gothic culture. All to often, providers encounter patients that represent cultures that make them uncomfortable. This is not uncommon especially when dealing with teens. In such situations, the provider finds that this discomfort impacts their ability to provide optimum care. If a provider is not culturally competent when it comes to addressing health concerns with a patient, their effectiveness will be limited. According to Campinha-Bacote's model of Cultural Competency, a culturally competent individual must possess awareness, knowledge, skills, and desire regarding working with such patients. This is best achieved through patient encounters. Through this project, nurse practitioner students were assessed based on their cultural competency through assessment tools and a standardized patient encounter. Data will be presenting regarding the student's performance related to each construct in the model. This was an excellent case for making students aware of the impact culture has on them. Many of the students were overcome by the patient's appearance and mannerisms that in turn impacted their ability to effectively assess and develop a plan for the patient. Students were given feedback from the patient following the encounter. This feedback helped the students recognize the impact the teen had on them and develop strategies to become more effective in future culturally diverse encounters.

Learning Objectives: Learning Objectives