Best Teaching Practices for Providing Culturally Sensitive and Inclusive Nursing Education: Nurse Educators’ Perspectives

Abstract

This paper explored problem-based learning and cultural diversity, critical thinking and clinical judgment and cultural diversity, and nurse educators’ perceptions of implementing culturally diverse and inclusive nursing education. The results of this exploration are presented in three articles (Chapters 2-4). In Chapter 2, a synthesis of literature regarding strategies for problem-based learning with culturally diverse students was described. Studies in nursing literature have not specifically focused on the needs of culturally diverse students when implementing problem-based learning. Nurse educators need to consider their own culture and their students’ culture when implementing problem-based learning. They also need to dialogue together about best teaching strategies in nursing education that consider culture. In Chapter 3, the results of a systematic literature review on strategies for teaching and evaluating critical thinking, clinical reasoning, and clinical judgment in culturally diverse nursing students was presented. Recent nursing literature was reviewed regarding best teaching strategies and tools that are available for use with nursing students from diverse cultures. Cultural values of students will affect their learning style preferences, motivation, ways of thinking, respect for elders, group expectations, and style of communication. Because of this, nurse educators need to better understand how to work with the unique knowledge and skills of diverse students. The results of a descriptive exploratory study were presented in Chapter 4. The purpose of this study was to explore nurse educators’ perceptions of implementing culturally sensitive and inclusive nursing education and addressed the following areas: (a) implementation of best teaching strategies and practices, (b) description of challenges, (c) consideration of benefits, and (d) description of educational needs related to providing culturally sensitive and inclusive nursing education. The findings from the study can help guide educators in strategies to implement culturally sensitive and inclusive nursing education and to overcome challenges in that implementation. A summary of the three articles is presented in Chapter 5. A better understanding of implementing culturally sensitive and inclusive nursing education may assist educators to engage culturally diverse students with the goal of successfully meeting learning outcomes and preparing them to provide safe, effective, and culturally competent patient care.