What if your nursing student is from an Asian culture?

Abstract

Nursing faculty are educating an increasing number of Asian and Asian American students. There is a paucity of literature on how to facilitate their growth into professional nurses given their unique cultural differences. In order to optimize their educational experience, nursing faculty need to have a working knowledge of the cultural underpinnings of Asian American students. Building on two real scenarios, this article provides footnotes for understanding the rationales of the behaviors of Asian and Asian American students. The Cultural Assessment Model by Giger and Davidhizar (2004) provides the framework for the analysis. Based on this cultural knowledge, strategies and tips for improving communication with Asian and Asian American students are presented.