Development of Cultural Competence: The Effects of a Virtual Exchange Between US and Omani Nursing Students

Abstract

Development of cultural competence is essential for nurses to meet the needs of patients, families, and communities. Immersion experiences abroad have been shown to facilitate the development of cultural competence in nursing students; not all students are able to participate in these experiences. Virtual exchange is an alternative type of immersion experience that requires no travel and few resources. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a virtual exchange between bachelor of science in nursing students in the United States and the Sultanate of Oman on the development of cultural competence.