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Essay / Importance of Cultural Safety - 967
Bryson (2010) explains that if power is taken away from the patient, then cultural identity is compromised, in turn leading to diminished health and self-determination. Richardson (2010) agrees and further explains that if a patient is unable to control their involvement in their treatment, then they are more likely to conceal aspects of themselves in order to protect their identity and self-esteem. Another key point mentioned is the need for continuing education on cultural safety and how it is implemented in the healthcare environment (Richardson, 2010). Bryson (2010) stated that she struggled to understand cultural safety while studying her bachelor's degree in nursing. The complexity of the word cultural security was misinterpreted and she thought the concept was about “ethnic” security. After her clinical placement, she realized that cultural safety refers to the whole person. Integrate a person, ethnicity, religion, beliefs, morals and broader values and