Effectiveness of Student Cultural Diversity

Learning to Provide Transcultural Nursing

Care

Pamela Friesen, PhD, RN and Bernita Missal, PhD, RN

Learning Outcomes

Describe use of theoretical frameworks for nursing student cultural diversity learning during a national and international experience.

Discuss implications for effects of student cultural diversity learning on their personal and professional development.

Evaluate student development of cultural awareness following a cultural diversity course.

Minnesota

Land of 10,000 Lakes

Bethel University

Private University

Enrollment: 6,000

Nursing Department

Graduate

Pre-licensure

Degree Completion: RN to BSN

Cultural Diversity in Health Care

Required Course

Purpose– Changing World

Course Components

Learning Opportunities

Local and international settings

Cultural assessment with ethnically diverse patients

Application to practice

Stages of Student Experience

Preparation

Cultural experiences

Processing

Evaluation

International Learning• Senior nursing

students

• 3-4 week

duration

• Travel international

• Faculty members

Uganda

E

United Arab Emirates

Local Learning

Preparation

Lecture/discussion

Theoretical Framework

• Leininger’s Theory of Culture Care Diversity and Universality

• Purnell’s Model for Cultural

Competence

Preparation (Continued)

Readings

Case

studies

Personal Cultural Heritage

Experiential Preparation

Cultural Experiences

Ethnic speakers

Interviews

Cultural Interactions

Ethnic speakers

Interviews with Cultural Guide

Cultural Interactions

Hospitality

Processing of Learning

Result or conclusion:

– Accepting or finding meaning

– Resolving explanation to the dilemma

– Partial conclusions

– Admitting not enough experience or knowledge so learning is complete

– Resisting explanation or conclusion

Processing the Learning

Individual processing:– Guided Journaling– Reflective Learning

Group Processing:Meeting together to share experiences/thoughts

Role of Faculty Member Mentor

Multifaceted role

– Preparing for experience– Maximizing cultural experiences– Cultural safety – Debriefing

Past experiences and characteristics

Evaluation

Quantitative Research– Cross-Cultural Adaptability Inventory

(CCAI)• Emotional Resilience (ER)

• Flexibility/Openness (FO)

• Perceptual Acuity (PAC)

• Personal Autonomy (PA)

– Pre and post course experience– Findings

Evaluation

Qualitative Research– Sample 30 students in Cultural Diversity in

Health Care course– Immediately following the course and at 4

months– Content analysis– Themes

Self-Understanding

“This course provided me with a better

understanding for other cultures and

helped me to become more aware of my

own cultural bias. Even though I thought

I was culturally sensitive, I realized I was

ethnocentric.”

Cultural Sensitivity

“I have become much more aware of thedifferent belief systems of various cultures. Ihave alot more patience…Hearing about theNative American culture in class helped meunderstand when we had a young boy in for surgery. He had several friends come askwhat room he was in. It took several attempts to have them understand that he hadn’t even come back yet. The way Dr. Souchay explained thetime concept made more sense to me then.”

Shared commonalities

“I appreciate the commonalities and

celebrate the differences.”

“I was surprised at the similarities and

enlightened by the differences. I have

actually found [the similarities] to be

comforting. Different cultures often have

more in common than apart.”

Culture Care

“As nurses, we need to trust that the

client is the expert of their life, culture,

and experiences and if we respectfully ask

to learn from them, they will tell us how

to care for them.”

Relationship Building

“I tell them I interviewed [my culturalguide] and that she is from Nigeria. Then Iask [my African coworkers] where they are from. It has been an amazing experience forme! Previously my communication with them was limited. Since my interview, I have approached six people of different cultures in my unit. I now look at them throughentirely different eyes. I appreciate their hard work and acknowledge they are valuable team-members.”

Summary

Addressing needs of the changing world in the 21st century

Contribution to nursing education Contribution to nursing practiceContribution to nursing research

Contact Information

http://cas.bethel.edu/dept/nursing/