A classroom activity to introduce cultural diversity

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Nursing Education
• Cultural Studies

Background:

• Undergraduate developmental psychology courses in nursing programs often lack sufficient focus on cultural diversity.
• Stereotypes can negatively impact healthcare outcomes for culturally diverse populations.
• Integrating cultural competence is crucial for effective nursing practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe an activity for introducing cultural diversity into an undergraduate developmental psychology course for nursing students.
• To facilitate a discussion on stereotypes and their effects on culturally diverse populations based on student responses.
• To emphasize the significance of incorporating cultural diversity into mainstream educational settings.

Main Methods:

• An activity was designed and implemented in an undergraduate developmental psychology course.
• Student responses to the activity were collected and analyzed.
• Qualitative analysis of student responses informed the discussion.

Main Results:

• Student responses provided a basis for discussing stereotypes.
• The activity successfully initiated conversations about cultural diversity.
• Insights into student perceptions of cultural diversity were gained.

Conclusions:

• Introducing cultural diversity activities is effective in undergraduate nursing education.
• Discussions on stereotypes are essential for developing cultural competence in future nurses.
• Mainstream education should prioritize the integration of cultural diversity to prepare culturally sensitive healthcare professionals.