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The Effects of Reverse-Role Simulation on Nursing Students' Ethnocultural Empathy: A Quantitative Study
1About the Author Fabiola D. Lalande, DNP, RN, is an associate professor, Richard and Sheila Young School of Nursing Regis College, Regis College, Weston, Massachusetts. For more information, contact her at Fabi.lalande@regiscollege.edu or fabbidias@gmail.com .
Aim:
The aim of this study was to examine the impact of reverse-role simulation on nursing students' empathy levels toward ethnoculturally diverse patients.
Background:
Empathy is an essential component of culturally competent care; however, it is often left out of cultural competence education. Enhancing nursing students' cultural empathy may benefit students and patients.
Method:
The study used a quasi-experimental one-group pretest-posttest design in a private nursing school in the Northeast. The sample consisted of 37 undergraduate nursing students.
Results:
Pretest and posttest scores were statistically different, indicating a significant increase in the students' ethnocultural empathy, t (36) = -3.20, p = .003.
Conclusion:
This study supports using reverse-role simulation as an effective teaching strategy to enhance nursing students' empathy toward ethnocultural diverse patients. Placing students in the "shoes" of an ethnoculturally diverse patient can increase their empathy levels and enhance cultural competence education.
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