Abstract
Purpose: This study aimed to assess nursing students' CC in cultural awareness, knowledge, sensitivity, skills, encounters, and desire. It also explored nursing students' views on caring for culturally diverse patients and how these views relate to CC.
Design: A convergent mixed methods design addressed the following research questions:
1. What are the levels of CC in nursing students in Kenya?
2. What demographic and cultural characteristics impact students' CC levels?
3. What are nursing students' views on caring for diverse patients?
4. How do these views compare to or explain the students' CC levels?
Methods: A convenience sample of 190 nursing students from a Kenyan university participated. Cultural competence was assessed using questionnaires and interviews. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, multiple regression, and content analysis. Common concepts from quantitative and qualitative data were identified.
Results: Quantitative results indicated high levels of CC among most nursing students, with the highest scores in awareness and knowledge subscales. Skills and sensitivity were ranked lower. Greater CC was associated with working in rural areas, private healthcare settings, taking more continuing education units (CEUs), and younger age. Qualitative and quantitative data converged for most variables. Divergent areas explained why scores were not at the highest possible level.
Conclusion: These findings inform education and healthcare stakeholders about nursing students' CC needs. Strategies to support ongoing competency are recommended.
Notes
Reference list included in attached slide deck.
Sigma Membership
Zeta Gamma
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Mixed/Multi Method Research
Keywords:
Competence, Health Equity or Social Determinants of Health, Public and Community Health, Cultural Context and Care, Cultural Awareness, Kenya
Recommended Citation
Waweru-Smith, Sylvia, "Nursing Across Cultures: Challenges and Opportunities in Caring for Kenya's Indigenous Communities" (2025). Biennial Convention (CONV). 220.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/convention/2025/presentations_2025/220
Conference Name
48th Biennial Convention
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2025-12-08
Nursing Across Cultures: Challenges and Opportunities in Caring for Kenya's Indigenous Communities
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Purpose: This study aimed to assess nursing students' CC in cultural awareness, knowledge, sensitivity, skills, encounters, and desire. It also explored nursing students' views on caring for culturally diverse patients and how these views relate to CC.
Design: A convergent mixed methods design addressed the following research questions:
1. What are the levels of CC in nursing students in Kenya?
2. What demographic and cultural characteristics impact students' CC levels?
3. What are nursing students' views on caring for diverse patients?
4. How do these views compare to or explain the students' CC levels?
Methods: A convenience sample of 190 nursing students from a Kenyan university participated. Cultural competence was assessed using questionnaires and interviews. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, multiple regression, and content analysis. Common concepts from quantitative and qualitative data were identified.
Results: Quantitative results indicated high levels of CC among most nursing students, with the highest scores in awareness and knowledge subscales. Skills and sensitivity were ranked lower. Greater CC was associated with working in rural areas, private healthcare settings, taking more continuing education units (CEUs), and younger age. Qualitative and quantitative data converged for most variables. Divergent areas explained why scores were not at the highest possible level.
Conclusion: These findings inform education and healthcare stakeholders about nursing students' CC needs. Strategies to support ongoing competency are recommended.
Description
This study assessed the cultural competence (CC) of 190 nursing students in Kenya, focusing on awareness, knowledge, sensitivity, skills, encounters, and desire. Using a mixed methods design, surveys and interviews were conducted. Results showed high CC levels, with awareness and knowledge scoring highest. The presentation will highlight qualitative findings, showcasing students' experiences, challenges, and offering recommendations for culturally sensitive care.