Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) in Nursing
Learn how to improve your quality of care by understanding, respecting, and responding to a patient’s experiences, values, and beliefs.
About This Program
This free, four-hour e-learning program is designed for nurses and nursing students seeking knowledge and skills related to cultural competency and cultural humility. This program will equip you to deliver the highest quality of care to everyone.
In Course 1, An introduction to CLAS, you will examine cultural identity, social determinants of health, and the role of CLAS in improving quality.
In Course 2, Self-awareness, you will become more aware of your beliefs and values, as well as your privilege, power, bias, and stereotypes.
In Course 3, Awareness of a patient’s cultural identity, you will learn how and why to get to know a patient’s cultural identity.
In Course 4, Providing CLAS in nursing practice, you will explore ways to deliver respectful, compassionate, high quality care that responds to a patient’s experiences, values, beliefs, and preferences.
Credit Information
This program is accredited for four hours for Nurses. Other professionals, as well as students, may earn a Statement of Participation.
Click on each box below for more information.
How to Obtain Credit
For successful completion of this program and to obtain a certificate of completion, you must register on this website, review each module, earn a minimum post-test score of 80%, and complete the evaluation survey. You will receive a certificate of completion via email.
Release Date: February 13, 2024
Expiration Date: December 31, 2025
Learning Objectives
After completing this continuing education activity, participants will be able to:
- Describe at least three ways that providing CLAS can improve quality of care
- Explain how a nurse’s implicit bias can affect patient interactions and outcomes
- Discuss ways to learn more about your patient’s cultural identity
- Describe how to practice cultural competency and cultural humility
Disclosure Statement
The accredited provider adheres to accreditation requirements regarding industry support of continuing medical education. Disclosure of the planning committee and faculty's commercial relationships will be made known at the activity. Speakers are required to openly disclose any limitations of data and/or any discussion of any off-label, experimental, or investigational uses of drugs or devices in their presentations. All employees in control of content have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated.
Faculty / Planners
Riikka Salonen, MA
Managing Director, Health Equity
BCT Partners
C. Godfrey Jacobs, BA
Subject Matter Expert
BCT Partners
Jennifer Kenyon, BA
Subject Matter Expert
BCT Partners
Kaitlin Delenick, MPH
Health Information Specialist
General Dynamics Information Technology
Amanda Gashel, MSN, RN
Technical Project Manager
General Dynamics Information Technology
Advisory Work Group
LCDR Naomi Aspaas, BSN, RN
HHS Office of Minority Health
Juliet Bui, MPA, MSW
HHS Office of Minority Health
Denise Carty, PhD, RN, MS, MA
HHS Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Norma G. Cuellar, PhD, RN, FAAN
University of Alabama Tuscaloosa Capstone College of Nursing
Caroline Dorsen, PhD, FNP-BC
Rutgers University School of Nursing
Cynthia L. Foronda, RN, PhD, CNE, CHSE, ANEF
University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies
Rose Gonzalez, PhD, MPS, RN
Eun-Ok Im, PhD, MPH, RN, CNS, FAAN
Asian American Pacific Islander Nurses Association
Kenneth Johnson, JD
HHS Office for Civil Rights
Loretta T. Lee, PhD, CRNP, FNP-BC
University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing
Melissa Lewis, PhD
University of Missouri School of Medicine
Michael Lischke, EdD, MPH
Wake Forest School of Medicine
Sandra (Sandy) Littlejohn, MA, BSN, RN
Gundersen Health System
Lisa Martin, PhD, RN, PHN, AHN-BC
National Alaska Native American Indian Nurses Association
Veronica G. Parker, PhD, BS
Clemson University School of Nursing
Charlene Pope, PhD, MPH, CNM, BSN
Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center / Medical University of South Carolina
Tara Spencer, MS, RN
HHS Health Resources and Services Administration
Antonia Villarruel, PhD, RN, FAAN
University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
Veronica Vital, PhD, MSN, BSN, RN
University of Arizona College of Nursing
Shanita Williams, PhD, MPH, APRN
HHS Health Resources and Services Administration
SeonAe Yeo, RNC, PhD, FAAN
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing