Designing a competency-based nursing practice model in a multicultural setting

Cultural diversity of patients and staff has challenged nurse educators to create new culturally sensitive learning environments and to participate in the design of systems that ensure standards of care for patients and standards of performance for nurses are met. Performance expectations require nurses to render age-specific, culturally congruent nursing care and function as integral members of interdisciplinary, multicultural healthcare teams. In this article the author describes the development of a Competency-based Nursing Practice Model in a multicultural setting and explores the role of the staff development educator throughout the design process.