As a nurse working in an acute behavioral health unit, emergency room, case management, cultural awareness is critical when treating a diverse patient population. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health (OMH), cultural competence is “a set of behaviors, attitudes, and skills that enable nurses to work effectively in cross-cultural situations” (Garcia, 2007, p. 1). It is important for nurses to provide culturally competent and appropriate care to patients due to the ever-growing culture of diversity. My workplace is located in Orange, California. Demographically, the city is 47% Caucasian, 38% Hispanic, 11% Asian/Pacific Islander, 1% Black, and 3% other races. I am a Filipino American, born and raised in California and identify with the 11% Asian/Pacific Islander group. It is necessary for nurses to have the cultural awareness and skills necessary to serve patients of any race or ethnicity. We can do this by educating ourselves and taking into account all different cultures. A nurse can improve their direct patient care by integrating cultural competence into their method of care. The first step in developing cultural sensitivity is to examine and know yourself. One way to develop sensitivity is to evaluate your position in relation to the culture. Cultural assessment strategies are available for nurses and healthcare professionals. Campinha-Bacote, (2002) developed the Cultural Competence Model, which consists of a series of questions that help determine whether a nurse is open to improving their cultural knowledge. Once it has been ascertained whether the desire is there, other evaluations are taken into consideration in...... middle of paper...... problem that led him to this hospitalization. The doctor ordered a reevaluation after 21 days to determine whether the herbs were the contributing factor to the patients' chest pain and shortness of breath due to tachycardia. As a nurse I feel I need more education to become more culturally competent. There are many paths I can take to increase my cultural knowledge and awareness. If I had more worldly knowledge, it would improve my awareness, strengthen my nursing skills, and give me a more positive attitude. This, in turn, could change my behaviors and improve my direct patient care in an acute setting. I remind myself every day to work as a non-judgmental nurse, free from bias and prejudice, and to integrate research, knowledge, skill, flexibility and creativity into my practice in order to provide culturally appropriate and sensitive healthcare.