This assignment will focus on the process of understanding your own values and beliefs and how they impact your worldview. For this assignment you will need to consider some basic questions and write a cultural self-assessment reflection.
Below are several tools that you may want to use to help in this reflective process. These tools are intended to help you start thinking about diversity and your own worldview. But please don’t limit yourself to only answering the questions on the tool(s) you select, think about the questions and how your views/experiences/events shape where you are in your ability to embrace diversity. At least 3 evidence based resources from the U.S. within 5 years. No journal articles that have to have a paid subscription to access.
Please make sure you address the following:
Brief personal background (childhood, schooling, family life, socio-economics, values, etc.)
This is MY background to include: Grew up in very small town in Tennessee with divorced parents. I have 5 brothers and sisters. My parents were in a homogamous marriage. I graduated high school with 89 students and there was only one African American student, the rest were all Caucasian. We would be considered middle class growing up. Attending a southern baptist church with all Caucasian people.
Cultural experiences- personal
I went to the University of TN at Chattanooga and this was a culture shock. There were many different cultures/races and not what I was accustomed to. I got very familiar with them quickly upon started school at UTC. A lot of different cultures/races.
Cultural/diversity experiences- nursing career
All the nurses that I work with are Caucasian with very little cultural differences, if any. I work in a same day surgery area and about 10% of the patients are not Caucasian, the rest are. Living in southern TN, cultural differences are not very common.
Personal strengths and weaknesses with cultural competence-self reflection
STRENGTHS
-I am very open minded with the willingness to learn about and respect diverse cultures without judgment.
-Ability to adjust communication styles or behaviors to suit different cultural contexts.
-Strong ability to understand and share the feelings of individuals from different backgrounds.
-Recognizing the importance of lifelong learning in cultural competence.
WEAKNESSES
Personal Weaknesses in Cultural Competence
Unconscious Bias: Tendency to hold implicit stereotypes or assumptions about other cultures.
Limited Cultural Exposure: Lack of direct interaction with diverse cultural groups.
Communication Barriers: Struggling to effectively communicate with individuals from different linguistic or cultural backgrounds.
Overconfidence: Assuming that a general understanding of a culture applies universally to all individuals within that culture.
Resistance to Discomfort: Feeling hesitant or defensive when faced with situations that challenge cultural norms or personal beliefs.-“I notice that I sometimes avoid discussions on sensitive cultural topics because I’m afraid of saying the wrong thing.”
 
Your paper should not exceed 4 pages in length (not including the cover page or the reference page-these pages never factor into the overall page count). Be sure to review the rubric for specific grading details. References must be within the last 5 years.
*One “tool” they gave us:
Diversity Self-Assessment
Cultural competence can be defined as the capacity to: (1) value diversity, (2) conduct
self-assessment, (3) manage the dynamics of difference, (4) acquire and institutionalize cultural
knowledge, and (5) adapt to the diversity and cultural contexts of the individuals and
communities served. Activities that include experiences of cultural competence can be:
1) concrete experience,
2) abstract conceptualization,
3) reflective observation,
4) active experimentation.1
Students, Staff, and Faculty
Checking How You React to Unfamilar Cultural Experiences
Write about an experience when you had an encounter with someone from a different cultural
group that resulted in conflict. Answer:
• What were the things that triggered me in this conflict?
• How would I normally handle such a conflict?
• What assumptions did I make?
• Were these assumptions warranted?
• If it happened again today, how could I handle it differently?
RUBRIC
Assignment Rubric
Criteria Ratings Pts
Content Relevance
35 pts
Response demonstrates an in-depth discussion, and personalization of, the topic. Viewpoints are insightful and well supported. Clear, detailed examples are provided, as applicable.
30 pts
Response demonstrates a general discussion, and personalization of, the topic. Viewpoints are supported. Appropriate examples are provided, as applicable.
15 pts
Response demonstrates a minimal discussion and personalization of, the topic. Viewpoints are unsupported or supported with flawed arguments. Examples, when applicable, are not provided or are irrelevant to the assignment.
0 pts
Response demonstrates a lack of discussion or personalization of, the topic. Viewpoints are missing, inappropriate, and/or unsupported. Examples, when applicable, are not provided
/ 35 pts
Critical thought/ Reasoning/ Synthesis
30 pts
Response shows strong evidence of critical thinking, reasoning, and synthesis of ideas and insights gained from reading(s). In-text citations are accurate.
25 pts
Response shows evidence of critical thinking, reasoning, and synthesis of ideas and insights gained from reading(s).
15 pts
Response shows little evidence of critical thinking, reasoning, and synthesis of ideas and insights gained from reading(s).
0 pts
Response shows no evidence of critical thinking, reasoning, and synthesis of ideas and insights gained from reading(s).
/ 30 pts
Quality of Information
30 pts
Response includes all components and meets or exceeds all requirements indicated in the instructions. Each question or part of the assignment is addressed thoroughly.
25 pts
Response includes all components and meets all requirements indicated in the instructions. Each question or part of the assignment is addressed.
15 pts
Response is missing some components and/or does not fully meet the requirements indicated in the instructions. Some questions or parts of the assignment are not addressed.
0 pts
Response excludes essential components and/or does not address the requirements indicated in the instructions. Many parts of the assignment are addressed minimally, inadequately, and/or not at all.
/ 30 pts
Structure/APA Format
20 pts
Writing is clear, concise, and well organized with excellent sentence/paragraph construction. Thoughts are expressed in a coherent and logical manner. Title page is accurate. Reference page is accurate. There are no more than three spelling, grammar, syntax, or APA errors.
15 pts
Writing is mostly clear, concise, and well organized with good sentence/paragraph construction. Thoughts are expressed in a coherent and logical manner. There are no more than five spelling, grammar, syntax, or APA errors.
10 pts
Writing is unclear and/or disorganized. Thoughts are not expressed in a logical manner. There are more than five spelling, grammar, syntax, or APA errors
0 pts
Writing is unclear and disorganized. Thoughts ramble and make little sense. There are numerous spelling, grammar, or syntax errors throughout the response
/ 20 pts
Page limit followed Paper to not exceed 4 pages (not including the required title and reference pages).
10 pts
Page limit followed
0 pts
Paper exceeds specified page limit.