Cultural Humility: Retraining and Retooling Nurses to Provide Equitable Cancer Care

Background: Cancer outcome disparities exist among Black, Indigenous, and people of color despite advancements in screening, detection, and treatment. In addition to racial and ethnic diversity, the U.S. population is experiencing shifts in sociodemographics, including a growing aging population, sex and gender identities, spiritual and religious belief systems, and divides between high- and low-income households.

Objectives: This article provides a foundation for cultural humility as a clinical competency in nursing to improve the quality of cancer care.

Methods: CINAHL^®, PubMed^®, Google Scholar, and grey literature were searched using keywords, including cultural humility, cultural competence, nursing, nursing pipeline, nursing workforce, and health.

Findings: Retraining and retooling the nursing workforce promotes multiculturalism in oncology care and increases opportunities to provide more appropriate, patient-centered care to those living with cancer. Increasing the diversity of nursing faculty and staff, enhancing nursing curricula and education, and creating equitable relationships to support patient-centered care are initiatives to ensure high-quality care.