Barriers to success for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) pre-registration nursing students in the UK

Abstract

In 2019, the UK hosted approximately 460,000 culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) students, with health professional courses ranking in the top ten fields of application. This review highlights the usual challenges faced by CALD students on pre-registration nursing programmes. Attrition rates are high and there is a clear and concerning awarding gap. The importance of attracting and retaining CALD student nurses is critical to improve care for increasing numbers of CALD patients accessing healthcare in the UK. Challenges due to cultural differences reflected in the literature suggested cultural and linguistically diverse determining factors of both academic and personal success in nursing careers. These challenges spanned language, academic experience, personal, and social factors and placed significant additional stress on students studying on programmes recognised for their physical and emotional demands and intensity. Institutional improvement strategies to support the growing number of CALD pre-registration nursing students is needed to address barriers to success, reduce attrition, support anti-racism guidance, and increase successful course completion.