Cultural considerations: developing a nursing care delivery system for a Hispanic community.

Transcultural nursing should be the main focus of the nurse in any setting. Increased mobility of society demonstrates the need to understand anthropologic and cultural differences. The Valley provides a laboratory in which transcultural nursing can be examined more closely. Cadena recommends that MA nurses remain open to personal feelings generated by relationships with MA patients. The astute nurse assesses each patient's level of assimilation and provides care based on the findings. Comprehensive communication and patient and family participation are the keys to successful transcultural nursing. Sensitivity to modesty and pride translates into professional understanding of holistic needs rather than humiliation and alienation of the patient. At VBMC, these concepts are translated into working systems through the UACs and the bedside-managed care delivery system.