Cultural perceptions and clinical experiences of nursing students in Eastern Turkey

• DOI: 10.1111/inr.12321
• Publication Date: 2016-09-29T02:42:46Z
• Authors: G. Karatay; B. Bowers; E.B. Karadağ; M.C. Demir
• Keywords: Male; Turkey; 4. Education; Culture; Cultural Diversity; Care; Focus Groups; Nursing Education; Culturally Competent Care; Young Adult; 03 medical and health sciences; Cultural Competence; Humans; Female; Students, Nursing; Safety; Cultural Competency; 0305 other medical science; 10. No inequality; Qualitative Research

AimThis study explored Turkish nursing students’ perceptions of providing care to patients culturally different from themselves.BackgroundIncreasing migration will increase the need for nurses to provide care across cultural groups.MethodsTwenty one students in the second year of a 4‐year nursing programme participated in 3 focus groups. Data were analysed using directed content analysis. Research questions were based on Campinha‐Bacote's model.ResultsThree themes were identified: perceived cultural barriers, perceived cultural facilitators and identifying culturally sensitive actions. Generally, students were able to define culture but were unable to say how culture would affect nursing practice.DiscussionStudents were unprepared to practice in a multicultural setting. Cultural awareness is insufficient for determining how to respond to cultural differences.LimitationsThe study is limited by its restriction to a single school of nursing and a single curriculum.ConclusionsThe multiple, ongoing political, religious and ethnic conflicts will require nurses to provide care to patients from other cultural groups, in some instances to people identified as adversaries to the group the nurse may represent. Understanding cultural differences is insufficient to do this effectively.Implications for nursing educationLearning culturally competent care requires opportunities to provide, be guided through and reflect on care to individuals from different cultural groups.Implications for organizational and public policiesStandards for culturally competent care should be adopted by all care delivery settings. Public and organizational policies openly declaring healthcare settings as cultural safe zones, and explicit organizational commitment to culturally safe care, would set clear expectations for providers and help ensure a positive patient experience.