Other Titles

Academic Session: Developing communication skills

Abstract

Session presented on Saturday, April 13, 2013:

Background & Purpose of the Study: Although cultural competence education has been mandated in baccalaureate nursing education, there are currently three different forms of cultural competence curricula found in baccalaureate nursing programs: those with a nursing culture course, those with a non-nursing culture course and those that integrate culture content throughout the nursing curriculum. The primary purpose of this study was to determine if one of these three forms is more efficacious in improving cultural competence and confidence in nursing students than the other two, and the secondary purpose was to determine if one of the three forms of curricula is more efficacious in improving cultural competence and confidence across academic levels.

Methods: This study utilized a quantitative methodology with an exploratory, between-groups, cross-sectional and correlational research design to measure cultural competence and confidence in baccalaureate nursing students across three different forms of curricula and three different academic levels. A convenience sample of 759 baccalaureate nursing students across six schools of nursing participated in the study.

Results: Only the students in the Nursing Culture Course Program reached a level of cultural competence. Cultural competence and confidence increased significantly from freshman to junior year in all three programs, but not from junior to senior year. Cultural competence and confidence levels showed a positive correlation. As cultural competence increased, confidence increased as well.

Conclusion: Educators may need to revise curricula to include a Nursing Culture Course, taught by nursing faculty and consider including methods to incorporate a patient's culture into their plan of care for patients. More research is necessary to confirm these results and to explore faculty perceptions regarding the importance of incorporating cultural competence education in baccalaureate nursing curricula and whether or not pseudo immersion would facilitate greater cultural competence and confidence levels in junior and senior year students.

Authors

Donna M. Mesler

Author Details

Donna M. Mesler, PhD, RN, CPNP

Sigma Membership

Gamma Nu

Lead Author Affiliation

Seton Hall University, South Orange, New Jersey, USA

Type

Presentation

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

N/A

Research Approach

N/A

Keywords:

Cultural Competence, Nursing Students, Nursing Education

Conference Name

Creating Healthy Work Environments 2013

Conference Host

Sigma Theta Tau International

Conference Location

Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

Conference Year

2013

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Review Type

Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host

Acquisition

Proxy-submission

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A comparative study of cultural competence curricula in baccalaureate nursing programs

Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

Session presented on Saturday, April 13, 2013:

Background & Purpose of the Study: Although cultural competence education has been mandated in baccalaureate nursing education, there are currently three different forms of cultural competence curricula found in baccalaureate nursing programs: those with a nursing culture course, those with a non-nursing culture course and those that integrate culture content throughout the nursing curriculum. The primary purpose of this study was to determine if one of these three forms is more efficacious in improving cultural competence and confidence in nursing students than the other two, and the secondary purpose was to determine if one of the three forms of curricula is more efficacious in improving cultural competence and confidence across academic levels.

Methods: This study utilized a quantitative methodology with an exploratory, between-groups, cross-sectional and correlational research design to measure cultural competence and confidence in baccalaureate nursing students across three different forms of curricula and three different academic levels. A convenience sample of 759 baccalaureate nursing students across six schools of nursing participated in the study.

Results: Only the students in the Nursing Culture Course Program reached a level of cultural competence. Cultural competence and confidence increased significantly from freshman to junior year in all three programs, but not from junior to senior year. Cultural competence and confidence levels showed a positive correlation. As cultural competence increased, confidence increased as well.

Conclusion: Educators may need to revise curricula to include a Nursing Culture Course, taught by nursing faculty and consider including methods to incorporate a patient's culture into their plan of care for patients. More research is necessary to confirm these results and to explore faculty perceptions regarding the importance of incorporating cultural competence education in baccalaureate nursing curricula and whether or not pseudo immersion would facilitate greater cultural competence and confidence levels in junior and senior year students.