In a busy hospital ward, a nurse supporting a patient from a migrant background found herself rushing through appointments and defaulting to family members to interpret. After completing the Cultural Competence Reflection Tool, she recognised that time pressure had led her to compromise on communication and that she had underestimated how disempowering this could be for patients with limited English.
The tool encouraged her to reflect on her cultural assumptions and the value she placed on efficiency over patient autonomy. “I realised I was prioritising the schedule over the person,” she said. “The tool helped me pause and ask: am I really making space for this patient to understand and be heard?”
With support from her manager, she began requesting interpreters more consistently, using plain language strategies and checking for understanding through teach-back. Small changes, like offering patients a few extra minutes or explaining procedures differently, helped build confidence and trust.
“Cultural safety isn’t just about big policy shifts. It’s about small, thoughtful choices we make every day.”
