Learning to care for clients in their world, not mine

Current literature and trends support the need to incorporate concepts for culturally focused nursing care and experiences with diverse cultures into nursing curricula. The purposes of this qualitative research were to describe the phenomena of being immersed in a different culture and to generate a conceptual map depicting process and outcomes of the immersion experience. From analysis of stories told by practicing nurses (n=9) who had an immersion experience during a baccalaureate program, a dimensional matrix emerged. The core dimension was learning to care. Situational predetermining factors included educational setting, personal characteristics, and demographic factors. Characteristics of the immersion context were site conditions. Transitional factors included strategies for "learning to care" such as social support, coping responses, and openness to adapt communication patterns. Outcomes included personal and professional growth in values, communication, and nursing practice. The matrix can guide nurse educators in incorporating immersion experiences into nursing curricula.