Cultural awareness amongst nursing students

Abstract

This study is aimed to explore cultural awareness and sensitivity amongst nursing students by examining the importance of cultural factors in the delivery of nursing care, together with the barriers that may be present when caring for a patient from a different culture. It also explores students' views towards culturally diverse clients. A Likert scale questionnaire was administered to a convenience sample of twenty-five Institute of Health Care nursing students so as to collect quantitative data. The study had a hundred percent response rate. A descriptive analysis of the gathered data was carried out. Findings suggested that nursing students were aware about the importance of cultural factors in delivery of care. Nevertheless, student nurses had limited knowledge about different cultures. Participants did consider education as an important factor in becoming culturally aware. Results demonstrated that nursing students' attitudes and behaviours towards culturally diverse patient were positive. The study elicits the need for local hospitals to provide cultural assessment tools and resources to decrease cultural barriers. Moreover, it recommends the provision of transcultural education amongst the student nurses cohort.