There is no end point in seeking knowledge of other cultures and demonstrating understanding. It is through life experience that we learn about cultures. Caring, empathy, understanding, treating others as you would like to be treated are attributes of my personal philosophy regarding cultural competence. Throughout my nursing career, I have realized that the nursing profession is constantly changing and redefining. Defining practice through theory has validated nursing as a profession. Defining the skills necessary for cultural competence is rooted in care and is fundamental to the nurse-patient relationship. If a nurse cannot show care or empathy, cultural competence cannot be achieved. As our world gets smaller and our society becomes more ethnically diverse, cultural competence will become a necessary skill for healthcare professionals. For nurses, caring, person-centered care, cultural competence and quality are what define 21st century nursing practice (Leininger,