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Conclusions

This review of the literature has several implications for Nursing education. The weight of opinion in the literature seems to favor the inspection of curriculae in nursing programs to make sure that the subject of trans-cultural care is being addressed adequately. Leninger (1996) is convinced that in the near future "schools of nursing and other health services will experience an urgent demand to become knowledgeable and competent in transcultural health care" (p.28). Most researchers recognize the value of courses which will increase the students' awareness of people as cultural beings. Leninger (1999) reported on such a course, and noted that

(t)he main objectives of the course included exploring one�s own cultural background, developing a sense of cultural awareness, and cultivating skills that allow students to understand and analyze cultural influences.[p.9]

This literature review also has implications for hospital managers. If they accept as true that the population of patients with a different cultural background is increasing, then that fact should influence how they select and recruit appropriately sensitive staff. There will probably be a negative impact on budgeting, because it seems likely that patients who need culturally sensitive care are going to require more time per contact. This negative impact might be offset if the culturally-sensitive care results in faster recovery for patients, resulting in shorter hospital stays.

Another implication of this research affects nurses entering the profession. It seems apparent that that nurses who speak more than one language, or have an understanding of another culture, will be more and more in demand in the hospitals of the future.

As a result of this literature review, this author suggests that research be done to examine the effectiveness of training that current students are receiving in the collaborative Nursing Program. One way to do this would be to ask graduates of this program, who are currently working as Nurses, whether Nursing students at Kwantlen University College are receiving adequate training in providing culturally sensitive care.