Cultural Competence of Student Registered Nurse Anesthetists in Illinois

This study examined the level of perceived cultural competence of student registered nurse anesthetists (SRNAs) in Illinois and made educational recommendations. A descriptive, cross-sectional study was completed using the Clinical Cultural Competency Questionnaire (CCCQ) to evaluate the perceived level of cultural competence among SRNAs in Illinois. Four domains of clinical cultural competency--knowledge, skills, attitudes (awareness), and encounters--were evaluated and reported. The survey response rate was 16.7% (N=57). A significant positive correlation was observed between cultural knowledge and age (P=.03). There was a significant difference in cultural knowledge between students attending a nurse anesthesia program in suburban Northeastern Illinois and students attending a large, urban university in the city of Chicago, with CCCQ knowledge mean rank scores of 38.44 and 13.77, respectively. The overall level of perceived clinical cultural competence of SRNAs was low: mean (SD)=3.13 (0.54); range=2.17 to 4.89. The authors concluded that SRNAs need additional cultural education and training in their program of study to enhance their perceived level of cultural competence and to deliver culturally competent anesthesia care. The desire to become culturally competent coupled with deficient levels of cultural knowledge among SRNAs merits further work.