Abstract
One of the factors that can influence a person's perception of the pain experience is culture. Understanding cultural similarities and differences, nurses can better prevent problems related to stereotyping, miscommunication, and interpersonal stress that lead to inadequate control of pain. Despite inconclusive and sometimes conflicting studies on cultural influences and pain, understanding cultural diversity and ethnicity should be a primary concern for nurses caring for patients with pain. Healthcare professionals need to become sensitive not only to the patient's heritage but also to their own and to pay particular attention to what happens when different heritages come together.