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Abstract: Multiracial and multiheritage individuals in the United States have been described as invisible and the fifth minority, often experiencing marginalization, disparities, cultural pain, and/or unmet needs. This article provides background information and hands-on strategies to promote cultural congruence in the workplace, health care, and academic settings for multiracial and multiheritage individuals. Poignant case scenarios contrasting culturally congruent and culturally incongruent approaches demonstrate outcome disparities based upon approach. The far-reaching impact of such disparities provoke a prioritized action-for-making-a-positive-difference focus. Leininger's Culture Care Theory and Jeffreys's Cultural Competence and Confidence model provide a framework for assessment, decision, action, education, and for making a positive difference.
Key Words: Multiracial, Mixed Race, Multiple Heritage, Multiheritage, Culture, Cultural Congruent Care, Cultural Competence, Nursing, Health Care, Multicultural Workplace, Diversity
The United States (US) historically has been a multicultural society with people from every comer of the globe. In contemporary times, the United States continues to evolve and grow demographically in a diverse manner with predictions of an ever-growing and diverse population well into the future. Somewhere, hidden in the visual view of multicultural people in the US is an emerging population that is different than the multicultural populations of the past. Since the year 2000, the US Census has allowed people to identify with more than one race or ethnicity, with the trend continuing for the 2010 and 2020 census. However, even though there are opportunities to identify as a person of more than one race or ethnicity, individuals may remain hidden, and in some cases invisible to the general society. Being hidden has consequences for multiracial and multiheritage individuals politically, economically, socially, and in health care. What are the unique cultural care needs of multiracial and multiheritage individuals in the US in contemporary society now and in the future?
This manuscript intends to provide a brief contemporary view of the significance and background for multiracial and multiheritage individuals related to nursing and health care. In addition, the manuscript will offer a hands-on approach to issues and concerns of multiracial and multiheritage individuals related to nursing and health care. A theoretical foundation using Leininger's Cultural Care Theory (CCT) and Jeffreys's Cultural Competence and Confidence Model (CCC) will frame this important discussion regarding multiracial and multiheritage individuals in the United...