Learning to Nurse in a Multicultural Society - The Experiences of Nursing Students in Sweden

Abstract

Introduction: Transcultural nursing education is often neglected within nursing curricula and inclusion within curricula may be haphazard. Little is known about nursing students’ views on transcultural nursing education. There is a lack of research examining how nursing students are prepared in university and practice settings for nursing in a multicultural society. Objective: To examine nursing students' preparation for and experience of cross-cultural encounters. Method: Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with a purposive sample of 10 final year students from one university in Sweden: 5 participants were from a Swedish background and 5 from an immigrant background. Interviews explored participant’s experiences of preparation for and experience of nursing in a multi-cultural society. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed and analysed using ‘framework’ approach. Results: Three themes were identified in the analysis: experiential learning through life experience, educational preparation for practice, and learning in clinical education. Students from an immigrant background emphasized the importance of their life experiences while ethnic Swedish students emphasized education in equipping them to meet patients from another culture than their own. In clinical settings students used their skills of self-awareness to reflect upon their response to cross-cultural encounters as well as critical reflection on practice. In clinical placements, students were inadequately prepared to deal with negative attitudes, racism and discrimination towards patients and in some instances towards themselves. Conclusion: Although nursing students felt nursing education had equipped them with the necessary selfawareness, knowledge and skills to face cross-cultural encounters, nursing education had failed in preparing students to deal with negative attitudes, racism and discrimination. Nurse educators need to place greater emphasis on preparing students deal with difficult situations arising from racism and discrimination that they may experience in clinical practice. Students need to understand why racism and discrimination may occur and also how to respond and act appropriately.