INTERNATIONAL NURSING STUDENTS CLINICAL EXPERIENCES: A BASIS FOR STRUCTURAL MANAGEMENT FOR TRANSCULTURAL COMPETENCY

Abstract

Developing  nurses as global  citizens regardless  of cultural background  becomes imperative for nursing education (Chavez, Bender, Hardie, & Gastaldo, 2010; Mill, Astle, Ogilvie, & Gastaldo, as cited by Asenso, et al, 2012). With a remarkable increase of culturally diverse students entering nursing schools poses a challenge among  academic, clinical staff and significantly to students. In the Philippines, the need to study clinical experiences among international students becomes imperative (Croxon & Maginnis, as cited by Appiah & Wa- Mbaleka, 2014). This inquiry is geared towards international nursing students’ clinical experiences as basis for structural management to guarantee transcultural competency. Quantitative descriptive research design was used. Complete enumeration and purposive random sampling which consist of 25 respondents of the tree sectarian schools, Saint  Louis University, Northern Luzon Adventist College and Manila Adventist Medical Center. A survey questionnaire developed by Appiah and Wa-Mbaleka, (2014) was utilized in data gathering to ascertain the concern of the study. Respondents disagreed that they are culturally competent in terms of academic preparation. Disagreed that they are intercultural competent along culture. Respondents agreed that they experience racial discrimination whether from their patients, classmates, nurses, or doctors due to color. Disagreement was noted on discrimination on country of origin so with the discrimination on tagalong speaking  competency. Disagreed that Filipinos they encounter during clinical are prepared to work with international nursing students. There is no significant difference on transcultural competency along preparation, color, country, language and working with Filipinos in the identified variables gender, year level and race. There are significant differences along preparation in tagalong language proficiency and in terms of culture among personality type. Lastly, there is no significant difference in preparation, culture and clinical challenges with the identified variable race.

A structural management   to ensure transcultural competency of international nursing students evolved as a result of the findings of the study.