Attitudes of Army nurses toward African American and Hispanic patients

A random sample of 86 Army nurses from a major metropolitan area participated in a study to investigate their attitudes toward African American and Hispanic patients. Information was collected using the Ethnic Attitude Assessment Survey. Cronbach alpha for the African American patient was 0.74, with 0.72 for the Hispanic patient. Analysis was conducted using one-way analysis of variance, Pearson correlation, paired t test, and descriptive statistics. The variables examined were gender, educational preparation, ethnicity, nursing experience, time in the Army, overseas assignments, and whether cultural diversity content was included in the respondent's undergraduate curriculum. Attitudes were statistically more positive toward the African American patient than toward the Hispanic patient. Females had more positive attitudes than males, but only toward the African American patient. Finally, nurses perceived a need for cultural understanding when providing care to patients of different ethnic groups.