Introduction:The increasing cultural diversity of contemporary societies requires healthcare professionals to be increasingly sensitive and adaptable in their care of patients from diverse cultural environments. Cultural differences can lead to misunderstandings, tension, and unequal treatment, making it essential for healthcare systems to respond with appropriate concepts and strategies—such as cultural competence and cultural humility. Purpose: The purpose of this master’s thesis was to explore the role of cultural humility as a complement to cultural competence among registered nurses working with patients from varied ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Special emphasis was placed on the importance of self-awareness, reflection, and ethical responsibility in caring for others. Methods: We used a descriptive review methodology of Slovenian and international literature available in Slovenian or English, accessed via PubMed, Medline, Academic Search Complete, Health Source, CINAHL, COBIB.SI, DiKuL, and the professional journal Obzornik zdravstvene nege. The search focused on publications from 2005 to 2024 and included terms such as “cultural humility”, “cultural competence”, “healthcare nursing”, “empathy”, and “reflection”. Results: From 23 relevant sources, four key themes were identified; the role of reflective practice, the relationship between cultural competence and humility, barriers in clinical implementation and the importance of education and institutional support. The findings show that cultural humility goes beyond cognitive cultural understanding; it encompasses a lifelong process involving self-reflection, self-critique, and a willingness to learn from patients themselves. Discussion and conclusion: In everyday clinical practice, nursing professionals are challenged to uphold respect for cultural diversity while simultaneously ensuring high-quality patient care. Cultural humility—as a mindset and relational approach—supports a deeper understanding of patient needs and reduces risks of stereotyping and ethnocentric responses. Integral to this is strong institutional backing and the integration of cultural humility into nursing education and ongoing professional development. Future research is particularly needed to investigate connections between cultural humility, patient satisfaction, and healthcare outcomes.
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