Barbara Jones Warren

The Interlocking Paradigm of Cultural Competence: A Best Practice Approach:

Cultural competence is a key factor in the delivery of quality psychiatric mental health (PMH) nursing care. The Interlocking Paradigm of Cultural Competence (IPCC) is a best-practice model developed from the work of Peplau, Leininger, Nichols, Campinha-Bacote, and Purnell. The IPCC has five interlocking factors (therapeutic, value, world view, process, and orientation) representing theoretical, philosophical, process, and assessment components. This article presents a discussion of the factors within the paradigm and the applicability and implications of the paradigm for PMH nurses’ use with their clients from diverse racial and ethnic cultural groups.

Symptomatology and Medication Monitoring for Public Mental Health Consumers: A Cultural Perspective

BACKGROUND: With the increased focus and impetus on pharmacological interventions, psychiatric mental health nurses have become concerned about consumers’ ability to understand and monitor their symptoms and medications. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship among cultural factors, stressors, moderators, medication monitoring, and psychiatric symptoms in consumers with severe mental disorders. STUDY DESIGN: This study is a cross-sectional analysis of data from a longitudinal research project conducted in Ohio. The sample was comprised of 199 consumers receiving community-based services within the public mental health system. RESULTS: Age, gender, and race were associated with indicators of medication monitoring. The model explained 51% of the variance in depression, 35% in anxiety, and 43% in psychoticism. CONCLUSION: Consumers’ culture is an important facet in the manifestation of psychiatric symptoms and the ability to monitor medications.

Cultural Competence: A Best Practice Process for Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing

In the United States, there are two major influences that have affected the psychiatric-mental health nursing specialty during the last 5 years. The health care system, with its norms, values, and beliefs, has been altered by the cultural influence of managed care, and the face of America has become more culturally and ethnically diverse than in previous decades. The focus of this article is that understanding the concept of culture and how it is reflected in an individual’s health