Innovative curricular approaches for fostering cultural competence in nursing education

Abstract

This article discusses some challenges fostering cultural competence for student nurses. Norwegian national guidelines uphold study abroad as the norm and set as a future goal that 50% of students should spend time abroad during their studies. This goal has proved hard to reach due to several factors, such as students’ economic situation and obligations to work and family. Higher education institutions (HEIs) need a broader approach to ensure students’ cultural competence despite not being able to travel abroad. We have developed diverse strategies for strengthening the outcomes for cultural desire and competence gained by students who do not travel. We believe that HEIs need to significantly increase their efforts to facilitate ‘internationalization at home’ to benefit students with necessary cultural awareness, knowledge and skills.