Achieving Culturally Competent Mental Health Care: A Mixed-Method Study drawing on the Perspectives of UK Nursing Students.

Abstract

Purpose This study aimed to examine the degree of cross-cultural competency amongst UK mental health student nurses, and the care delivery challenges arising from their internalised cultural assumptions. Design and Methods This study adopted a mixed-methods design. Participants were final year nursing students in the UK. Findings The results revealed participants had a moderate level of cultural awareness and competency but highlighted many challenges to providing cross-cultural care arising from the meanings, enablers and values they attributed to culturally competent mental health care. Practice Implications As cultural competency is considered an essential characteristic of effective nursing care, greater attention should be paid to how student nurses assimilate cultural awareness in order to develop confidence in their day-to-day practice.