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Learning Objective #1: describe the challenges faced in teaching students or practicing nurses the aspects of cultural competency.

Learning Objective #2: discuss methods for modeling and mentoring culturally competent behaviors for students and practicing nurses.

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Living in culturally diverse areas of the U.S. over the last decade, the author has noted an inherent assumption that because the area is culturally diverse, health care providers must be culturally competent. However, direct observation in clinical practice has indicated that this is a faulty assumption. Therefore, an extensive review of literature was undertaken to provide models or guidance for developing culturally competent students and practicing nurses. An extensive literature review was undertaken to provide guidance for developing teaching materials for academic and practice setting educational sessions. Selections for this review were generated from a computerized search of nursing literature from 1980 through 2005; cumulative indexes of the professional literature over the same period; and the ancestral approach generated by the database search. Materials reviewed were limited to widely circulated journals, printed in English, with education or clinical implications for providing culturally competent care. Over 40 sources were available for review. Summary: Cultural competency in nursing practice is one of the issues that has taken the stage over the last two decades, evolving as a professional mandate for the delivery of quality patient care to a multicultural global community. The majority of the literature reviewed was theoretical or anecdotal. A few pieces presented models for cultural care, but most were not broad enough to provide significant guidance in educating nurses on providing culturally competent care. Conclusions: Since there were few guidelines for education or practice, a search of historical materials and contemporary anecdotes was used to provide some guidance for educational sessions. Further, is the initial development of a conceptual model and teaching materials that may assist in developing the educational sessions needed within the academic and clinical community.