The transcultural nursing concept: a study of nursing students in Turkey

Abstract

The majority of students experience cultural diversity in patient care. It is thought that transcultural care placed in curriculum even as a separate course will guide nursing students in all stages of patient care. Thus, the effect of cultural diversity in patient care can be minimized with the help of education.

An analysis of the cultural problems encountered during caregiving by the nurses working in two different regions of Turkey

“…It is reported in a study that Izmir and Gaziantep were among the provinces that received the highest rate of immigration . In similar studies made in our country with nursing and/or midwifery students, the rates of caregiving of individuals from different cultures of students were found to be 69.4, 68.8 and 85.5% . Similarly, Sargent et al .…”

“…Ayaz et al . found that the issues where cultural differences were experienced to the highest degree were differences in dialect and pronunciation (53.4%), and differences of language (37%) among nursing students . Similarly, Tortumluoglu et al .…”

“…Fasting is practiced as refraining from eating, drinking, smoking and having sexual relation from sunrise to sunset . In studies made with nursing and/or midwifery students in our country, it was found that students had trouble when giving care to patients who had different religious beliefs and lifestyles from theirs, and it was found in another study that care was affected by the differences in religious belief and sect at a rate of 30.2% …”

“…Therefore, it is becoming increasingly important to foster nurses with the cultural knowledge and skills that meet the cultural needs of people, and this fundamental issue should be integrated into the nursing curriculum in an effective way . At present, theoretical knowledge regarding transcultural care, which is included in the curriculum of nursing education in Turkey, is not adequate, and this kind of care is not administered to an adequate degree …”

“…Moreover, cultural differences can exist between various generations and between subgroups . It is a fact that there are culturally diverse populations that live at the same, or different, locations in Turkey . In the field of nursing, there are very few studies performed on transcultural care in our country.…”