Clinical meaning
Cultural humility is a lifelong process of self-reflection and self-critique that acknowledges power differentials between healthcare providers and patients. Unlike cultural competence, which implies mastery, cultural humility recognizes that understanding culture is an ongoing, never-complete endeavor. Structural competency extends this framework by requiring nurse practitioners to understand how institutional policies, economic structures, and social systems create and perpetuate health disparities. Equity-informed prescribing considers socioeconomic factors such as medication affordability, formulary navigation, and access to pharmacy services when developing treatment plans, ensuring that clinical decisions do not inadvertently widen health inequities.