Date of Conferral

2015

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Health Services

Advisor

Diana Naser

Abstract

For several decades, the field of nursing has focused on the integration of cultural competence content into its prelicensure educational programs. Despite this focus, little is known about the cultural competence of nurses extending their education past initial licensure into an advanced practice nursing specialty, such as nurse anesthesia. Researchers in other fields have found that provider race and previous cultural competence training are associated with higher levels of cultural competence. This research, guided by the culture care diversity and universality theory, sought to determine the relationship between the two subscales, Cultural Awareness and Sensitivity (CAS) and the Cultural Competence Behavior (CCB) of the Cultural Competence Assessment (CCA) tool, and describe the relationships that exist between selected demographic variables and the total cultural competence scores for nurse anesthetists. One hundred and fifty-eight members of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists participated in the study. The total CCA score for the population was 4.98 out of a potential total score of 7 (SD = .79). Mean scores were 5.64 (SD = .73) and 4.38 (SD = 1.19) for the CAS and CCB subscales, respectively. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis confirmed a positive relationship between post graduate diversity training and total CCA score (B = .28, p < .05). Identifying the cultural competence of this population and the characteristics that are associated with high levels of cultural competence could lead to better provider awareness of their own interactions and perceptions of patients and improved patient-centered care for patients in minority populations who are served by certified registered nurse anesthetists, resulting in positive social change.

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