Nursing students’ lived experiences of multicultural nursing education: A phenomenological study
DOI: https://doi.org/10.33024/minh.v9i4.3139
Cultural Competence Multicultural Nursing Education Nursing Students Phenomenologyi
Abstract
Background: Cultural diversity in healthcare necessitates that nursing students possess the ability to comprehend the diverse values, beliefs, and practices of patients. Understanding how nursing students experience multicultural education is important for developing cultural competence, effective communication, and culturally sensitive professional attitudes.
Purpose: To explore nursing students’ lived experiences and their interpretation of multicultural nursing education.
Method: A qualitative approach with a phenomenological design. A total of 12 diploma nursing students were selected by purposive sampling as participants. Data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews and analyzed phenomenologically through the process of meaning identification, thematic grouping, and experiential interpretation.
Results: The results of the study produced five main themes, namely cultural awareness as the basis for learning, experience of adaptation to cultural differences, the role of lecturers in learning, communication challenges in clinical practice, and the formation of professional attitudes based on cultural sensitivity. The findings suggest that the meaning of multicultural nursing education is formed through classroom learning experiences and clinical practice.
Conclusion: Multicultural nursing education plays an important role in shaping students' cultural competencies, including awareness, adaptability, communication, and professional attitudes. The integration of multicultural learning in the curriculum is necessary to prepare students to deal effectively with the diversity of patients.
Downloads
References
Andrew, L., Robinson, K., Dare, J., & Costello, L. (2023). Nursing students doing gender: Implications for higher education and the nursing profession. Nursing Inquiry, 30(1), e12516.
Ashipala, D. O., & Matundu, M. (2023). Nursing students' experiences of communication in a multilingual and multicultural clinical environment: A qualitative study. Nursing Open, 6875–6884.
Bourke, S. L., Mckenna, L., Cooper, S., & Lam, L. (2024). Nurse education today contextual determinants impacting final year nursing students’ emergency team communication during deteriorating patient simulations: A grounded theory study. Nurse Education Today, 138, 106183.
Chae, M., & Kim, B. (2024). Reducing cultural barriers: a grounded theory approach to nursing student attitudes after multicultural education. Risk management and healthcare policy, 2241-2253.
Cho, E. (2021). How Cultural Competency of Community Health Care Providers Reflects Multicultural Education: A Case Study on Nursing Majors. Medico-Legal Update, 21(2).
Cieślak, I., Panczyk, M., Gotlib-Małkowska, J., & Jaworski, M. (2025). Cultural awareness scale: psychometric properties and applicability in assessing cultural competence among polish nursing students. BMC nursing, 24(1), 542.
Cutmore, E., Simes, T., Le Lagadec, D., Hunt, S., & Bradshaw, J. (2024). Nursing students' experiences of different learning spaces: A comparative mixed methods study. Teaching and Learning in Nursing, 19(1), 39-47.
Daibes, M. A., Iblasi, A. S., Korkmaz, F. D., Elabasy, A. E., Khatab, R., Al Dameery, K., & Ismail, M. S. A. (2026). Patient Safety Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes Among Nursing Students: A Cross‐Sectional Multicultural Study. In Nursing Forum. (Vol. 2026, No. 1. 1-13).
Fadana, F. P., & Vember, H. F. (2021). Experiences of undergraduate nursing students during clinical practice at health facilities in Western Cape, South Africa. Curationis, 44(1), 1-10.
Ghasempour, M., Ghahramanian, A., Zamanzadeh, V., Valizadeh, L., Onyeka, T. C., & Jafarabadi, M. A. (2023). Senior nursing student’s confidence in learnt competencies and perceptions of patient safety competency: a multisite cross-sectional study. BMJ Open, 13(8), 1–11.
Gu, M., & Sok, S. (2023). Factors influencing multicultural acceptance of Korean nursing students. BMC Nursing 22(427), 1–8.
Han, S., Yoo, J., & Kang, K. (2024). Development and Validation of the Therapeutic Communication Scale in Nursing Students. Healthcare, 12(3). 394.
Hassan, M. A. S. (2023). The use of Husserl's phenomenology in nursing research: A discussion paper. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 79(8), 3160-3169.
Holmsen, L. C., Tveit, B., Skar, A. M. S, & Hem, M. H. (2025). Building a Community among Multicultural Healthcare Teams in Nursing Homes: A Qualitative Study of the International Caregiver Development Programme (ICDP). International Journal of Older People Nursing, 2025; 20:e7001
Howard, V., Hartman, A. M, Allen, D.H., & Reynolds, S.S. (2021). Student nurse perceptions of an innovative role to support clinical practices during a pandemic: A qualitative study. Nurse Education Today, 103, 104959.
Jayadi, K., Abduh, A., & Basri, M. (2022). A meta-analysis of multicultural education paradigm in Indonesia. Heliyon A Cell Press Journal, 8(1), 1-5.
Jiyoung, L. (2025). Beyond Borders: Exploring the Clinical Journeys of Multicultural Nursing Students. Asian Nursing Research - Korean Society of Nursing Science 19(2), 120–125.
Kabak, E., Olivar, J. J. R., & Tukayo, I. J. H. (2024). Towards An Inclusive Nursing Education of Multicultural Pedagogies and Frameworks in Indonesia: A Systematic Review. Public Health and Safety International Journal 5(2), 435-450
Karlsson, M., Hillström, L., Johnsson, A., & Pennbrant, S., (2022). Experiences of work-integrated learning in nursing education. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 46(10), 1377–1390.
Lalithabai, D. S., Ammar, W. M., Alghamdi, K. S., & Aboshaiqah, A. E. (2021). Using action research to evaluate a nursing orientation program in a multicultural acute healthcare setting. International Journal of Nursing Sciences, 8(2), 181–189.
Laugaland, K., Aase, I., Ravik, M., Gonzalez, M. T., & Akerjordet, K. (2023). Exploring stakeholders’ experiences in co-creation initiatives for clinical nursing education: a qualitative study. BMC Nursing, 22(416), 1–11.
Luukkonen, A. L., Kuivila, H., Kaarlela, V., Koskenranta, M., Kaučič, B. M., Riklikiene, O., Vizcaya-Moreno, F., Pérez-Cañaveras, R. M., Filej, B., Oikarainen, A., Kääriäinen, M., & Mikkonen, K. (2023). Mentors’ cultural competence at mentoring culturally and linguistically diverse nursing students in clinical practice: An international cross-sectional study. Nurse Education in Practice, 70. 1-8
Mwapotelange, J., & Nuuyoma, V. (2026). Nurses’ Experiences as Care Providers for Monolingual Patients: Insight and Suggestions for Communication During Nursing Care in Multicultural Societies. Journal of Transcultural Nursing 27(1). 54-63
Nuuyoma, V., Muvumwaeni, S., & Chihururu, L. (2024). Transcultural nursing: a qualitative analysis of nursing students’ experiences in a multicultural context in North-Eastern Namibia. BMC Nursing, 23(1), 1–13.
Ofra, H., & Orit, E. R. (2026). Perceived cultural competence among nursing students: A cross-sectional study. International Journal of Nursing Studies Advances, 10, 100489.
Oikarainen, A., Kaarlela, V., Heiskanen, M., Taam-Ukkonen, M., Lehtimaja, I., Kärsämänoja, T., Tuomikoski, A. M., Kääriäinen, M., Tomietto, M., & Mikkonen, K. (2022). Educational intervention to support development of mentors' competence in mentoring culturally and linguistically diverse nursing students: A quasi-experimental study. Nurse Education Today 116, 105424
Rahimi, M., Shahraki, S. K., Fatehi, F., & Farokhzadian, J. (2023). A virtual training program for improving cultural competence among academic nurse educators. BMC Medical Education, 23(445).
Sawicka, M. L (2023). Using graphic medicine in teaching multicultural nursing: a quasi-experimental study BMC Medical Education, 23(255),1–12.
Shapira, N., Shonfeld, M., Friedman, D., & Falah, J. F. (2023, March). Educators in Israel define cultural competence. In Frontiers in Education (Vol. 8, p. 1131352). Frontiers Media SA.
Sopian, A., Abdurahman, M., Tantowi, Y. A., Aeni, A. N., 'Ali, M., & Maulani, H. (2025). Arabic Language Learning in a Multicultural Context at Pesantren. Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 11(1), 77–89.
Sousa-Ribeiro, M., Persson, L., Sverke, M., & Lindfors, P. (2022). Approaching retirement: A qualitative study of older nursing assistants' experiences of work in residential care and late-career planning. Journal of Aging Studies, 60, 100994.
Visiers-jiménez, L., Baeza-monedero, M. I., Martínez-gimeno, M. L., & Ríos-díaz, J. (2025). Cultural Competence of European Nursing Faculty. An International Cross-Sectional Study. Journal of Nursing Scholarship,.57(3), 452–471.
Wulandari, R. A., Asmaningrum, N., & Ardiana, A. (2022). Transcultural Communication Strategies in Nursing with Multicultural Clients in Hospital Settings: A Systematic Literature Review. Jurnal Pendidikan Keperawatan Indonesia 8(2), 123–138.
Zdziarski, K., Zabielska, P., Wieder-Huszla, S., Bąk, I., Cheba, K., Głowacka, M., & Karakiewicz, B. (2022). Existential and Spiritual Attitudes of Polish Medical and Nursing Staff towards Death. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(15).
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Edison Kabak

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.