There is no end to seeking knowledge about other cultures and demonstrating understanding. It is through life experience that we discover cultures. Kindness, empathy, understanding, treating others as you would want to be treated are attributes of my personal philosophy regarding cultural competence. Throughout my nursing career, I have come to realize that the nursing profession is constantly evolving and redefining. Defining practice through theory validated nursing as a profession. The definition of the skills necessary for cultural competence is anchored in kindness and at the heart of the nurse-patient relationship. If a nurse cannot demonstrate caring or empathy, cultural competence cannot be achieved. As our world becomes 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 (Leininger,