Cultural Awareness in Nursing is a Progressive Growth

Abstract

During the past four decades, researchers have developed strategies used in nursing programs to promote cultural awareness. Minimal research has focused on the graduating associate degree-nursing students to determine if a relationship existed between the use of an integrated cultural curriculum and the nursing student's level of cultural awareness. The associate degree-nursing program accreditation, statistical and benchmark reports mandated the integration of diversity content, local, national and worldwide perspectives in the curricula. Additionally societal and cultural patterns must be integrated across the entire nursing school curricula.In this study, a correlational approach was implemented to determine if relationships existed between the integrated cultural curriculum and level of cultural awareness in graduating associate degree nursing students in a large metropolitan area, such as in Los Angeles. In addition, the focus was to determine if differences existed in the level of cultural awareness among the graduating associate degree-nursing students based on demographic factors (gender, ethnicity and age). The Cultural Awareness Scale (CAS) was used during this study. Based on the results of the 51 participants surveyed in this study, the cultural awareness level may be attributed to several factors, including the integrated cultural curricula. The nursing student's learning style, perception of faculty, personal experiences and cultural encounters may also contribute to the cultural awareness level.

Measuring Cultural Awareness Among Slovene Nursing Student: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…The highest rated subscale was NcC, which describes a teacher’s work during lectures on cultural competencies (e.g., “I feel that this nursing school’s instructors respect differences in individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds,” or “My instructors at this nursing school seem comfortable discussing cultural issues in the classroom.”). Thus, our findings correspond somewhat with other similar research using the CAS questionnaire (Safipour et al, 2016; Thornton, 2017). Since cultural competence is an essential skill for nurses, it is an important skill for nurse educators as well.…”

Determination of nursing students’ levels of cultural awareness, intercultural sensitivity, and their perspectives on culturally sensitive nursing care

“…It was found that students exhibit above average intercultural sensitivity levels, which is in line with other studies conducted in Türkiye (Akca & Ayaz-Alkaya, 2023;Alıcı, 2021;Baksi et al, 2019;Bilgiç & Şahin, 2019;Hergül et al, 2022;Kılıç & Sevinç, 2018;Yiğit et al, 2021;Yalçın & Öztürk, 2022;Yurttaş & Aras, 2020). However, it should be noted that studies in other countries have reported higher levels of intercultural sensitivity and cultural awareness among nursing students when compared to Türkiye (Ličen, Karnjuš, & Prosen, 2021;Muslu & Tuzcu, 2022;Thornton, 2017). This difference is believed to be due to the recent inclusion of cultural nursing approaches in nursing education curricula in Turkey and the absence of a standardized curriculum for cultural competence education.…”

“…Muslu ve Tuzcu'nun çalışmasında hemşirelik öğrencilerinin kültürel farkındalık puanı 172.49±30.25 olarak; Licen ve ark. tarafından Slovenya'da hemşirelik öğrencileri ile yapılan çalışmada 194.0±19.63 olarak; Thornton tarafından gerçekleştirilen çalışmada ise mezun olan hemşirelik öğrencilerinin kültürel farkındalık ölçeğinden en düşük 171.0, en yüksek 237.0 puan aldıkları bildirilmektedir (Ličen, Karnjuš, & Prosen, 2021;Muslu ve Tuzcu,2022;Thornton, 2017). Safipour ve ark.…”