Increasing Cultural Awareness in the Advanced Nursing Practice Program Through Active Learning

Abstract

As student cultural diversity increases in higher education, educators must implement bias-free evaluations and active learning activities. The objective structured clinical examination (OSCE), an active learning strategy where simulated patients role-play specific clinical scenarios, can be part of the advanced nursing practice (ANP) educational program for either formative or summative competencies evaluation. This article describes active learning and theatrical techniques used in a grant-funded workshop to increase cultural awareness among ANP students, nurse educators, and simulated patients. The participants’ increased understanding of their potential biases can create a psychologically safe and bias-free OSCE for culturally diverse students.