ABSTRACT

This chapter discusses the relationship between culture and nursing care and introduces readers to the philosophy of cultural safety and the steps towards becoming a culturally safe practitioner. It also discusses why we think cultural safety is the most appropriate way to consider issues concerning culture and mental health nursing care. The chapter reviews the definitions and assumptions on which it is based and examines how this philosophy can be applied in our everyday nursing practice. Some definitions of culture focus solely on the notion of worldview, and define culture as systems of beliefs, values and behaviours that are common to those who share a cultural identity. However, a moment’s reflection on our own cultural experience will demonstrate that those who share a cultural identity are not homogeneous and express or identify with their culture in myriad ways. Cultural safety education can play a pivotal role in preventing such dynamics in mental health settings.