Learning to care for clients in their world, not mine

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Cultural Competence
• Qualitative Research

Background:

• Growing need for culturally focused nursing care and diverse cultural experiences in nursing curricula.
• Current literature supports integrating these concepts into nursing education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the phenomenon of cultural immersion.
• To generate a conceptual map of the cultural immersion process and outcomes.
• To inform nurse educators on curriculum development.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative research approach.
• Analysis of narratives from practicing nurses (n=9) with prior baccalaureate immersion experiences.
• Dimensional matrix analysis to identify core dimensions, factors, and outcomes.

Main Results:

• Core dimension identified as 'learning to care'.
• Predisposing factors included educational setting, personal characteristics, and demographics.
• Immersion context characteristics and transitional factors (social support, coping, communication adaptation) influenced the experience.
• Outcomes encompassed personal and professional growth in values, communication, and nursing practice.

Conclusions:

• A dimensional matrix emerged from the analysis, illustrating the process and outcomes of cultural immersion.
• This matrix can guide nurse educators in designing and implementing effective immersion experiences in nursing curricula.
• Findings highlight the transformative potential of cultural immersion for nursing students and practicing nurses.