Transcultural Nursing Competency Experiences of Foreign Students from Selected Higher Education Institutions in the Philippines

Abstract

The need for transcultural nursing competency experiences amongst students points to an array of improvements in nursing education. The study utilized a descriptive qualitative research design through a semi-structured interview guided by the central question, “What characterizes the transcultural nursing experiences of the key informants in the clinical and classroom settings?” Interviews alongside audio recordings served as key in eliciting the transcultural experiences of the key informants. Data collected through purposive sampling were transcribed verbatim, deeply analyzed, encoded, and synthesized. Thematic interlace, thematic embodiment, peer review, expert validation, and triangulation were done. Three themes surfaced: Transformational acculturation (experiences in theoretical and clinical settings with highlights on what changed them upon nursing school entrance); transitional acculturation (adaptation by application of theory to practice where there is continuity of learning from classroom to clinical); and transpersonal acculturation (experiences in theoretical and clinical settings emphasizing involvement beyond their sense of self, pointing to sublime experiences in nursing education). The themes’ interrelationship portrayed students going through this triad of transcultural adaptation with dynamic and unending lifelong learning experiences. In essence, students go through the process of cultural adaptation, so they need to experience that quality nursing care be tailor-fitted to clients of distinct backgrounds.

Keywords: Transcultural, nursing, competency, experiences