Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #112414

Christina Harlan, RN MA, Janna L. Dieckmann, PhD, RN, Mary Catherine Scott Lowe, MSN, RN, and Sonda Oppewal, PhD, RN. School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB #7460, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, 919-966-9877, chris_harlan@unc.edu

Health professionals must demonstrate competencies in providing quality health care for Spanish-speaking patients and communities. Latinos are now the largest minority group in the USA, with some states experiencing very rapid growth in their Latino population. The US Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) challenge health professionals to provide effective and appropriate care across language and culture. In this context, schools of nursing must take leadership in assuring appropriate, culturally-competent practice of their graduates. This presentation describes lessons learned and best practices for Schools interested in enhancing curricula to prepare students for nursing practice with immigrant or culturally diverse populations. With the support of AHEC, University Center for International Studies, and a regional foundation, the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Nursing has developed a package of Latino-focused curriculum enhancements to build the self-efficacy of our students as bridges between cultures. Students in the BSN public health nursing courses may select clinical practicum in agencies serving a large Latino population. As part of their clinical practicum, students may also participate in short-term immersion experiences in Spanish-speaking countries in the developing world. On their return, these students have guest-lectured in the larger PHN course, to share their learning experience. Other students may elect to complete a required summer work experience in rural/underserved community health centers, health departments, or community-based organizations. Enhancement of students' Spanish language skills is integral to the success of these programs. Students may enroll in an online Spanish language course developed by UNC faculty: °A su salud! Spanish for Health Professionals (Yale University Press, 2004). MSN student theses have contributed to development of curricula in global health and culturally competent nursing practice that is used as theoretical basis for this program and pre-travel orientation to target countries. This multi-faceted approach to curricular enhancement has brought faculty with common interests together to organize a global health committee. Development of student opportunities in West Africa and the Caribbean is on-going. Taken together, these steps will better prepare nursing students for a workforce that effectively serves a large immigrant population.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify strategies to develop cultural competency among students and new graduates in educational and work settings.
• Apply elements of this Latino-focused program to new immigrant populations in own community.
• Articulate the impact of immersion experiences on developing cultural competency.

Keywords: Cultural Competency, International Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.