SY-324 Cultural diversity in nursing

The course is connected to the following study programs

• Bachelor's Programme in Nursing
• Bachelor's Programme in Nursing
• Bachelor's Programme in Nursing, Adapted for Distance Learning

Teaching language

English

Prerequisites

UiA nursing students:

• SY-120 Foundations of Nursing 
• SY-121 Human anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry 
• SY-122 Human pathology 
• SY-123 Drug calculations 
• SYP120 Clinical studies in basic nursing 
• SY-220 Nursing in various diseases - Work methods and technology 
• SYP220 Skills and procedures 

International students who come to the University of Agder (UiA):

Incoming students from partner institutions with exchange agreement with UiA should be registered as bachelor students in nursing at their home institution. Students must have completed and passed previous clinical studies in their program. Exchange students should be officially nominated by their home institution to apply.

Course contents

The course focuses especially on how nurses can provide health promotion and health care in a transcultural context.

Academic content of the course

• Culture and cross-culture in a nursing perspective
• Culture, race, and ethnicity: exploring concepts.
• Cross-cultural and transcultural nursing - theory and practice
• Cultural competence and communication in nursing
• Health promotion and cross -cultural nursing models and theories as a nursing approach

Online lectures and theory in combination with clinical practice in a cross-cultural context at the partner organization. Depending on the capacity at the partner organization the placement will be in either hospital, health clinics, school health programs or community outreach.

Learning outcomes

The student:

Knowledge 

• Understands the importance of international collaboration in research and professional development.
• Has knowledge of culturally sensitive nursing.
• Has knowledge about the concept of cultural competence in a nursing perspective.

Skills 

• Is able to apply knowledge of cultural competence and cultural understanding in assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of nursing. 
• Applies knowledge about cross-cultural communication in clinical practice.
• Shows cultural sensitivity in the practice of nursing.
• Is able to be innovative and solution-oriented in a new cultural professional environment

General competence 

• Is independent and adapts to new situations in the field of practice.
• Is familiar with global health challenges and nursing practice from an international perspective. 
• Is able to communicate key subject matters such as theories, problems and solutions both in writing and orally. 
• Reflects on own practice and ethical issues.
• Is able to communicate different views and share experiences with others in the field, and thereby contribute to the development of good practice. 

Examination requirements

• Approved attendance in clinical practice. Students are required to attend to 90 percent of the planned hours in clinical practice.
• Approved individual online multiple-choice test.

More information can be found in the students learning support system Canvas. 

Teaching methods

Combination of clinical practice, digital lectures and a written assignment. 

The required hours of clinical practice are specified in the individual learning agreement and can vary according to placements and countries. 

The student workload in the course is estimated to 135 hours.

More information can be found in the students learning support system Canvas.

Evaluation

The person responsible for the course decides, in cooperation with the student representative, the form of student evaluation and whether the course is to have a midway or end of course evaluation in accordance with the quality system for education, chapter 4.1.

Assessment methods and criteria

Individual or group-based written assignment (A report or a poster. Requirements for size and scope will depend on hours of clinical practice).

Assessment: Pass/fail.

There can be up to five participants in the group.

More information can be found in the students learning support system Canvas.