Exploring the growth trajectory of cultural competence in Taiwanese paediatric nurses

Mentors' cultural competence at mentoring culturally and linguistically diverse nursing students in clinical practice: An international cross-sectional study

AIMS

This study aimed to identify mentors' cultural competence profiles at mentoring culturally and linguistically diverse nursing students in clinical practice and explore associating factors.

BACKGROUND

Globalization has had a significant impact on healthcare, increasing the diversity of healthcare workforces and the number of culturally and linguistically diverse nursing students in clinical practice. The cultural competence of mentors is important to secure students' safe and successful learning. The mentor role in clinical practice contributes toward enabling and ensuring students' high-quality and goal-oriented development of competence.

DESIGN

This study implemented a cross-sectional design with a final sample of 270 clinical practice mentors from Finland, Lithuania, Spain and Slovenia.

METHODS

The data were collected using an online survey including the Mentors' Cultural Competence Instrument, Mentors' Competence Instrument and background questions during 2020-2021. The data were analyzed using a K-mean cluster algorithm to identify mentors' competency profiles.

RESULTS

Three significantly differing mentor competency profiles (Profile A 42%, Profile B 41%, Profile C 17%) were identified in this study. The cultural competence of the mentors in clinical practice varied between intermediate and high levels. Mentors rated their cultural competence as best in the area of cultural sensitivity and awareness, whereas the lowest scored area was cultural interaction and safety.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that the cultural competence of mentors in clinical practice varied and was influenced by mentors' work experience, age, job title and frequency of mentoring. This study provides new knowledge that could help to develop cultural competence operating models and education to enhance the cultural competence of healthcare professionals.

Cultural competence among pre-graduate nursing students, new graduate nurses, nurse mentors, and registered nurses: A comparative descriptive study

BACKGROUND

Achieving and improving cultural competence in nursing is an ongoing process, beginning in the student period and continuing through the professional career.

OBJECTIVES

The present study aims to compare pre-graduate students, newly graduated nurses, registered nurses, and nurse mentors in Taiwan in terms of their respective levels of cultural competence, and to determine associated influencing factors.

DESIGN

A comparative cross-sectional study.

SETTINGS

Three universities and three hospitals (one regional hospital and two teaching hospitals) in Taiwan.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 756 nurses/students (103 pre-graduate nurses, 321 newly graduated nurses, 101 registered nurses, and 231 nurse mentors).

METHODS

The Cultural Competence Scale for Pre-Graduated Students to Licensed Professionals was used to measure the cultural competence level. One-way analysis of variance and hierarchical regression analysis were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

For overall cultural competence and the subscales of knowledge, awareness, and skills, the pre-graduate students scored lower than the other three groups. Experience of caring for patients from diverse cultures and countries significantly influenced the cultural competence of all four groups. Ability to speak fluent English and receiving cultural competence education during nursing education only significantly influenced the cultural competence of the pre-graduate and new graduate nurses. Current job position and primary practice setting significantly influenced the cultural competence of the registered nurses and nurse mentors.

CONCLUSION

Pre-graduate students, newly graduated nurses, registered nurses, and nurse mentors have differing levels of cultural competence and differing influencing factors. Cultural competence education that accords with the influencing factors for each nursing position would continuously cultivate nursing staff's cultural competence.

Examining the implementation of teaching and learning interactions of transition cultural competence through a qualitative study of Taiwan mentors untaking the postgraduate nursing program

BACKGROUND

Cultural competency has been identified as an essential curricular element in undergraduate and graduate nursing programmes. Supporting successful transition to practice is essential for retaining graduate nurses in the workforce and meeting the demand for cultural diversity in health care services.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to explore the teaching and learning interactions of transition cultural competence from the perspective of mentors of newly graduated nurses in a Taiwanese postgraduate nursing programme.

DESIGN

A qualitative design that utilised focus group interviews was adopted for this study. A framework approach-a content and thematic analysis strategy-was used to analyse the interviews.

SETTING

The study setting consisted of two hospitals in northern Taiwan.

PARTICIPANTS

The study participants consisted of 24 new graduate nurse mentors.

METHODS

Three focus group sessions were conducted (two at a medical centre and one at a district hospital), where the participants were interviewed.

RESULTS

Four themes were derived from the data-transition process, teaching strategies according to the transition stage, learning after overcoming clinical stress, and awareness of cultural diversity among new graduate nurses. The clinical routine and physical stress of caring for patients did not allow the newly graduated nurses to appropriately demonstrate cultural competence in the first three months. Mentors were only able to provide resources for new graduate nurses when they first started to care for patients in cultural groups. The point of catalysis was when learners finally gained awareness of cultural differences, and, consequently, they could encounter the teaching and learning process.

CONCLUSION

The different learning stages and teaching strategies illustrated the interactive process between new nurses and educators. Facilitating the cultural awareness of learners is a challenge for teachers who provide cultural competence training. This model could serve as a reference for curriculum and clinical training programmes.