Cultural competence and North Carolina nurses: A journey from novice to expert

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-2008

Publication Title

Home Health Care Management & Practice

Volume

20

Issue

6

First page number:

454

Last page number:

461

Abstract

This study reports the survey findings of self-reported cultural competence of a convenience sample of 66 registered nurses of varying ages, gender, ethnicity, educational backgrounds, and experience in North Carolina. Campinha-Bacote's model of cultural competence and Benner's model of clinical skills acquisition serve as the conceptual frameworks. The process of cultural competence among health care professionals, developed by Campinha-Bacote, is used to measure cultural competence in participants. In addition to descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis of variance was conducted to compare means of cultural competence scores of different groups. Findings indicate that level of education, nursing experience, and continuing education are factors that promote cultural competence, whereas gender and race/ethnicity have no bearing. In addition, qualitative data generated four themes: language or verbal communication barrier, religious beliefs, different health beliefs and behaviors, and culturally inappropriate nonverbal communication. Implications of these findings for nursing education, practice, and future research are elaborated.

Keywords

Cultural competence; North Carolina; Nurses; Nursing

Disciplines

Nursing | Other Nursing

Language

English

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