Nursing Students' Perception of Caring for Culturally Diverse Patients: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study

Abstract

Background: This study examined the phenomenon of prelicensure nursing students caring for culturally diverse patients. Method: Individual interviews were conducted with undergraduate nursing students using a hermeneutic phenomenological approach. Qualitative research experts conducted the interviews, transcribed the data, and followed van Manen's methodology for analysis. Results: Eleven nursing students participated in the study. Data were collected from April to August 2022. The average length of the student interviews was 32 minutes. Four themes were identified: (1) communication issues; (2) access to care; (3) nurse background; and (4) trust and respect. Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of caring for culturally diverse patients. Policymakers and health care leaders can use the findings to support legislative proposals for enhancing culturally diverse patient safety and health equity. Based on these findings, nurse educators and preceptors can adapt their clinical teaching approaches accordingly, and nurse managers can benefit from the results when hiring new graduate nurses. [ J Nurs Educ . 2024;63(6):373–379.]