Transcultural self-efficacy among student nurses in a private nursing school

Abstract

Introduction Transcultural nursing is a formal area of study and practice focused on comparative holistic culture, care, health, and illness patterns of people with respect to differences and similarities in their cultural values, beliefs, and ways of life with the goal of providing culture-congruent, competent, and compassionate care (Leininger 1991:29). Nurses are in a unique position to embrace transcultural nursing as it impacts on health care practices and their ability to communicate effectively with patients. An increase in cultural competency usually leads to culturally congruent customary care to accommodate patients’ beliefs, cultural values, lifestyles, practices, and traditions (Schmidt 2015:3). Aim of the study The aim of the study was to explore the level of transcultural self-efficacy among student nurses at a private nursing school in Durban, Kwa Zulu-Natal. Methodology A qualitative research design with an ethnographic, descriptive narrative was used in this study. Ethnography is a qualitative paradigm which involves the description of cultural behaviour, cultural patterns and experiences and shared meanings that shape behaviour (Polit and Beck 2018:220). Data collection comprised of four stages, participant observations, focus group interviews, diaries, and reflections. Focus group interviews were analyzed using Leininger and McFarland’s (2002: 97) four phase data analysis. Findings The research questions were answered regarding the competence, skills, self-efficacy, and confidence of student nurses in their experience of nursing patients from diverse cultures. Three major themes, sub-themes and categories emerged, and these were awareness and self-awareness of culture, respect, caring and self-efficacy. The results showed that nurses believed that the more knowledge and experience they were exposed to, the more skilled and competent they would become, and this would enable them to be confident and efficient in delivering transcultural nursing care.