Cultural competence is an essential skill for all healthcare providers, including nurses. Recent reports from various organizations such as the Institute of Medicine (2002) have called for an end to racial and ethnic disparity in healthcare.  Healthcare providers who have knowledge and skills to deliver culturally competent care can work toward ending these disparities. In addition to classroom and clinical experiences, international collaboration can foster the acquisition of cultural competence. Yet, students often do not have the financial means to engage in study abroad. However, web based technologies can be used to foster international exchange. Following a sabbatical in Finland, two nursing faculty (one from the United States and one from Finland) collaborated to enroll Finnish nursing students on a Discussion Board within an RN-BS transition course at a Midwestern US university. After two years, the faculty member from the US returned to Finland and worked with the faculty member and Finnish students to refine the learning experiences. Following the next semester’s class, a web based survey was administered to evaluate this international exchange. One hundred percent of US students and 53% of Finnish students responded. Results showed that 30% strongly agreed and 44% agreed that learning about health care in another country gave them ideas about how to improve the health care in their own country. Eighty-one percent agreed or strongly agreed that nurses the world over should support one another in delivering quality health care. Comments showed that students in both countries faced similar educational and personal issues. Students learned that communication was hampered when jargon and unfamiliar abbreviations were used. Students also gave suggestions for improving the experience for future students enrolled in the course. Over-all, students and faculty, alike, learned that web-based technology was an excellent vehicle for promoting cultural competence.

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See more of The 17th International Nursing Research Congress Focusing on Evidence-Based Practice (19-22 July 2006)