Designing a Cultural Competency Training Program for Nurses in a Hospital in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Introduction & Purpose: Cultural competency is highly expected from nurses, who form the largest group of the healthcare workforce. Al-Moosa Specialist Hospital, located in Saudi Arabia, hires nurses from different regions across the world. Yet there are no cultural competency training programs or educational sessions in the hospital. The purpose of this project is to develop a cultural competency training program for nurses in the hospital.

Method: A literature review was performed to explore the different cultural competency theoretical models, the various cultural competency assessment tools, and the factors of successful cultural competency training programs to build on their experience when designing our training.

Proposed Training: The Purnell Model for Cultural Competence is the foundation for the content. The program employed a backward design, which starts with defining the learning objectives before choosing the instructional strategies and evaluation methods that will best enable each objective be met. The delivery format is blended and includes two parts. Part one is online and asynchronous, comprising an interactive lecture with complimentary videos and diagrams. The second part is practical and will be offered as an onsite workshop structured according to Gagné's 9 Events of Instruction Storyboard. An implementation and evaluation plan were developed as well.

Discussion: The suggested training has several advantages. First, the Purnell model and its organizing structure will serve as a guide for nurses when evaluating the culture of patients; a program at Pittsburg State University to teach cultural competence uses the same model to enrich its core curriculum. Second, a Cochrane study suggested that the use of mixed interactive and didactic formats and an emphasis on results were essential for the success of instructional sessions.

Conclusion: Ensuring a culturally competent health workforce is essential to increase the quality and safety of care (Cai, 2016). The proposed program is designed to enhance the intercultural communication of nurses, enabling them to build a therapeutic relationship with their patients and strengthen the person-centered approach used at the hospital.