Integrative simulation: a novel approach to educating culturally competent nurses

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Simulation
• Cultural Competence Training

Background:

• Increasing cultural diversification presents challenges for nursing education.
• There is a critical need to prepare nurses for culturally diverse patient care in various settings.
• Existing educational models may not adequately address cultural nuances in nursing practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) funded program utilizing simulation for culturally diverse learning opportunities.
• To enhance cultural competence among university-based and distance learning nursing students.
• To provide a safe environment for exploring clinical situations and the impact of culture on patient care.

Main Methods:

• Development of simulation cases using focus groups and interviews with diverse populations.
• Utilization of standardized patients and a web-based virtual hospital for student-patient interviews.
• Integration of high-fidelity patient simulators (mannequins) for hands-on care practice.
• Videotaping of student encounters for debriefing, classroom education, and distance learning.

Main Results:

• Students engaged with culturally diverse patient vignettes in a virtual hospital setting.
• Hands-on care was provided to high-fidelity simulators based on virtual patient interviews.
• Videotaped encounters facilitated debriefing sessions and educational reviews using a Personal Response System.
• The simulation provided a safe environment to explore clinical situations and the impact of culture, including student biases.

Conclusions:

• Culturally enhanced integrated simulation effectively prepares nursing students for diverse patient care.
• Simulation offers a safe, non-threatening environment to address cultural impact and student biases in clinical practice.
• This program enhances cultural competence, crucial for providing equitable care in urban and rural areas.