Developing cultural competence in nursing students through their experiences with a refugee population

Abstract

Nursing students in an urban university in southwestern Pennsylvania began visiting newly relocated Somali refugees as part of their community health nursing (CHN) clinical course-work. The purpose of this qualitative study was to relate the students' experiences in their clinical visits with the refugees to the development of cultural competence. Findings identify the many challenges confronted by students and present strategies for resolution. The level of skills needed for the care of vulnerable populations should be considered when assigning undergraduate students to the clinical setting.