Strategies to Promote Cultural Competence in Distance Education

Abstract

Cultural competence is a mainstay in health care and nursing education. With the expansion in the number of distance-based nursing programs across the country, innovative teaching methods for distance learning faculty are required to instill cultural competence in students. Faculty must be deliberate when planning distance-based learning activities that incorporate cultural experiences. This article describes several such strategies including the creative use of blogging, recorded lectures, the online synchronous classroom, social media, and cultural immersion projects. These methods capitalize on existing information technologies and offer distance-based students the opportunity to connect with one another, as well as develop the awareness, sensitivity, and respect that is required when providing culturally competent care. These teaching methods are modifiable to meet the teaching and learning needs of the faculty and the students, thereby allowing educators to support the integration of cultural competence into patient care for distance students.

Educational Strategies to Help Students Provide Respectful Sexual and Reproductive Health Care for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Persons

“…Education about SRH for LGBT clients may be delivered in traditional on‐site, hybrid, or online systems. In an online format, students may feel comfortable disclosing sensitive self‐reflective information in blogs and journals because settings support privacy . Key components of SRH educational content specifically for LGBT clients may include terminology, identification of personal bias, sexual health history taking, determination of appropriate referrals, and application of learned content through an exemplary case study.…”

“…Faculty can help students identify personal bias by presenting students with clinical scenarios that may expose them to ideas and persons who may be perceived as different. This experience can allow the students to examine personal experiences, upbringing, background, and personal cultural factors that might impact their beliefs regarding LGBT SRH . Exploration of personal bias can be accomplished without fear of judgment from peers by utilizing private blogs or journals in which the content is reviewed only by the faculty member.…”

“…Should her son be notified? These questions allow identification of any potential personal bias and ethical issues through a private narrative reflection or blog …”

“…This experience can allow the students to examine personal experiences, upbringing, background, and personal cultural factors that might impact their beliefs regarding LGBT SRH. 16 Exploration of personal bias can be accomplished without fear of judgment from peers by utilizing private blogs or journals in which the content is reviewed only by the faculty member. After the student identifies a potential personal bias, the faculty can work with the student to find ways to provide nonjudgmental, respectful care in spite of a personal bias.…”

“…18 The PLISSIT model can easily be practiced by pairs of students within a virtual classroom setting through the use of Adobe Connect, WebEx, Google Hangouts, or other interface, or face-to-face in a traditional classroom. 15,16 Students are encouraged to take turns as the provider and as the client, making up a sexual health history or acting out a case study, and not sharing their own personal details in the classroom setting. Written submission of the encounter allows the…”