An Investigation of the Development of Cultural Competence in Undergraduate Nursing Students: A Mixed-Methods Study

Abstract

Background: American nursing students are required to competently care for patients from diverse cultural backgrounds, yet few studies have demonstrated effective methods for increasing cultural competence in undergraduate nursing programs. Methods: A convergent mixed-methods study explored the effect of participation in an embedded, culturally diverse service-learning program on students’ development of cultural competence. The Inventory for Assessing the Process of Cultural Competence Among Health Care Professionals-Student Version (IAPCC-SV) and focus group interviews were used for data collection and analysis. Results: Students who participated in the culturally diverse program had significantly higher mean scores on the IAPCC-SV. Focus group interviews revealed themes of enlightenment, competence and connection, which were congruent with the quantitative data. Conclusion: Results support the use of a culturally diverse service learning program as a means to increasing cultural competence in undergraduate nursing students.