Cultural competence of practicing nurses entering an RN-BSN program

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Professional Development
• Cultural Competence in Healthcare

Background:

• Increasing nonwhite populations in the US heighten the importance of nurse cultural competence.
• RN to BSN programs educate a significant portion (38%) of baccalaureate nursing students.
• Examining cultural competence in RN to BSN students is crucial for addressing diverse patient needs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the cultural competence levels of registered nurses (RNs) entering RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs.
• To establish a baseline understanding of cultural competence among this specific nursing student demographic.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Inventory for Assessing the Process of Cultural Competency Among Healthcare Professionals-Revised (IAPCC-R) tool.
• Assessed 53 RN to BSN students at program entry.
• Measured cultural competence using the IAPCC-R scoring system.

Main Results:

• 50.9% of RN to BSN students demonstrated cultural competence based on the IAPCC-R.
• A significant positive correlation was found between IAPCC-R scores and student age.
• Younger students (20-30 years) achieved higher cultural competence scores than older students (41-50 years).

Conclusions:

• Findings indicate a need for further research into nursing education initiatives for cultural competence.
• Suggests evaluating the effectiveness of associate degree programs and NLNAC standards adherence.
• Highlights the cultural skill construct as an area for focused investigation in nursing education.