In the health care delivery system, as in society, the nurse interacts
with people of similar and diverse cultural backgrounds. People
may have similar or different frames of reference and varied
preferences regarding their health and health care needs. Acknowledging
and adapting to the cultural needs of the patient and
significant others is an important component of nursing care. To
plan and deliver culturally competent care, the nurse must understand
the definitions of culture and cultural competence and the
various aspects of culture that should be explored for each patient