You know how everyone says this, and maybe it's just because it's the PC thing to say, but it really isn't true. You can't treat all patients the same, just not possible. I think what is meant by this is: "don't judge/stereotype someone, and then give them the cold shoulder."
It really wouldn't be appropriate to treat a detox and end of life patient the same lol. I am a very kind and compassionate nurse, even to the patients that make it more difficult to be that way, but you really need to be assertive and firm and set limits with certain patients. I guess what should be said is that we should be respectful and provide excellent care to all despite their background. I guess I'm just being annoying with semantics lol, but treating all patients the same would not be advisable. Wouldn't we then be ignoring their "individuality?"
Oh, and what always makes me laugh are those mandatory cultural competencies. Firstly, you're not going to make someone culturally competent in a computer module. Secondly, they say in the module "don't stereotype or judge people based on gender, race, ethnicity", but then give a list of stereotypes for each ethnicity lol. Native Americans are stoic with pain, hispanics treat illness with hot/cold therapies, etc, etc. Oh, the irony.
