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NURSING 3580
TRANSCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
Elaine Hummel, MSN, RN, APRN,BC, FNP
Office Phone: (706) 864-1938
E-mail: ehummel@ngcsu.edu
Revised
May 2011
Department of Nursing
BSN Nursing Program
Course Number: Nursing 3580
Course Title: Transcultural Communication in Nursing
Placement: Nursing Elective
Credit: 2 Semester Hours
Prerequisite: None
Textbook: Munoz, Cora, Luckman, J. (2005). Transcultural Communication in Nursing.
2nd ed. Delmar Publishing.
Course Description:
A course designed to help students acquire the skills necessary to communicate effectively in today’s
multicultural society. Classroom activities will focus on improving the student’s ability to recognize and
overcome cultural biases, learning about different styles of communication, developing transcultural
communication skills, and interacting with others in an ethical, caring manner (elective/hybrid)
Course Outcomes: By the conclusion of this course the student will be able to:
1. Explore specific holistic and caring concepts for a variety of cultural/ethnic groups across the life
span
2. Access and synthesize current resources to support a variety of patient care approaches in a variety
of clinical settings
3. Analyze personal attitudes related to caring for and interacting ethically with others from diverse
ethnic/cultural/religious backgrounds
4. Examine the concepts of prejudice, bias, generalization and stereotype as they impact the delivery
of health care
5. Incorporate appropriate communication skills that promote culturally competent interactions with
others from a diverse background
6. Develop collaborative relationships with patients and peers from diverse cultural backgrounds
7. Communicate empathy and respect for culturally diverse individuals, families, coworkers and peers
who do not conform to the health beliefs of the allopathic health care system
8. Differentiate normal variations in body systems among clients from diverse ethnic backgrounds
Evaluation:
Class participation / Group Activities 10%
Transcultural Interaction Diary 25%
Cultural Stories (2) 30%
Cultural Presentation 35%
All assignments will be evaluated on evidence of reasoning, analysis, research, effective writing, verbal and
decision-making skills.
Class Participation includes: class attendance (at least two substantive postings on the discussion board per
week are required), preparation for, and appropriate participation in, assigned activities. This requires that
students read assignments carefully, post any questions related to the reading, and develop strategies for
applying these concepts to nursing practice. Attendance at face to face class sessions is mandatory.
A student may be administratively withdrawn from this course if one of the following occurs within the
first 2 weeks of the semester:
Failure to post as required in the course
Inability to perform the necessary computer functions required for the course (email, attach
documents to email, navigate the site, etc.)
Failure to have access to adequate computer hardware and/or software required for the course.
Course Evaluation: Grades will be assigned according to the number of points earned during the semester:
A - 90-100 points
B - 80-89 points
C - 75-79 points
D – 74-65 points
F - Below 65
**It is BSN faculty policy not to round any student grades, either individual assignment grades or final
course grades
All assignments will be evaluated based on evidence of reasoning, analysis, research, effective writing, verbal
and decision making skills.
*A "C" is required for progression in the nursing sequence.
"I" - incomplete - indicates a student was doing satisfactory work but, for non-academic reasons beyond his
control, was unable to meet the full requirements of the course. If an "I" is to satisfactorily removed
after one quarter, it will be changed to the grade "F".
"W" - withdraw - indicates a student was permitted to withdraw without penalty. A "W" will not be permitted
after midpoint of the total grading period. The instructor retains the ability to change a grade of
“W” to a grade of “WF” if the student is failing the course at the time of withdrawal (NGCSU
Policy 2010)
Attendance Policy: For an online course, attendance is based on reading the assignments for the week, posting
a minimum of two substantive discussion comments per week, as well as reading and responding to other
students’ postings. The discussion board of this course replaces classroom discussion so it is essential that you
participate in these discussions weekly. Your entry into the course and into each page of the course is
monitored and tracked automatically. The faculty reserves the right to drop a student from this course if they
have not posted for three weeks or more. Face to face class sessions will be required toward the end of the
semester for student presentations. Meeting dates will be scheduled and announced well in advance, so that
necessary arrangements can be made. All scheduled face to face meetings are required.
Online Expectations :
Time management and due dates
Refer to the course calendar for assignments, due dates, scheduled class meetings
Expect to spend approximately 1-2 hours per week working on this course
All due dates are posted on the course calendar ; plan ahead !
The consequences of late submission are outlined in the syllabus
Course E-mail
You have a course e-mail account that provides e-mail access to faculty and classmates
Check your course e-mail at least every 2-3 days ; this is the only way that faculty will
contact you
You can expect a reply to e-mail from faculty within 24 hours Monday-Friday unless
otherwise notified
You are expected to respond to course e-mail from faculty within 48 hours
Use office/cell phone numbers for urgent communication
Academic Integrity Statement and Honor Code: The faculty believes that an honest environment is the
responsibility of both faculty and students. The faculty attempts to provide an atmosphere conducive to
independent work. Faculty will designate when collaboration on assignments is allowed, when outside
resources should be used, and when work is to be done without assistance from others. For further
information, please refer to The Brochure On Academic Integrity (1996) developed by the Academic Integrity
Council (AIC)
Resubmission of any assignment from any course or previous course is considered a breach of academic
integrity.
All forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited and subject to severe disciplinary action. The faculty supports
the policy of North Georgia College & State University as stated in the North Georgia College & State University
Student Handbook.
Disability: North Georgia College & State University is committed to equal access to its programs, services &
activities for people with disabilities. If you will need accommodations in this class, reasonable notice needs to
be given to the instructor & the Office of Student Disability Resources.
Class Evaluation: Class evaluations at NGCSU are now conducted electronically through Banner.
Evaluation of the class is considered an essential component of the course and students will not be
permitted to access their course grade until the evaluation has been completed. The evaluations will
be accessible beginning one week prior to Final Exam week. (NGCSU policy) Students will also be
asked to complete a departmental evaluation of the course at the end of the semester. A link to the
appropriate evaluation tool will be provided the last week of the semester. Constructive feedback is
helpful in determining what aspects of the course should be revised.
Course Content:
Unit I: Introduction to Transcultural Communication
A. Theories and Models
B. Phenomena of Culture
C. Health and Illness
D. Language and Communication
E. Culture and Cultural Values
F. Self-Awareness
Unit II: Transcultural Communication Building Blocks
A. Barriers to Transcultural Communication
B. Beliefs, Behaviors, and Communication
C. Cultural Assessment
Unit III: Developing Transcultural Communication Skills
A. Transcultural Communication Techniques
B. Transcultural Therapeutic Relationships
C. Transcultural Communication Within the Health Care System
D. Working With and Without a Translator
Unit IV: Issues of Health Care Delivery
A. Responses to Pain, Grief, Death and Dying
B. Spirituality and Healing
C. Teaching/Learning Process
Unit V. Wellness and Illness in Specific Cultural Groups
Student Presentations/Face to Face Class Meetings
TRANSCULTURAL INTERACTION DIARY
N3580
In an effort to improve your transcultural communication skills, you are required to maintain a Transcultural
Interaction Diary during the semester. This diary will provide you with a record of your experiences with
patients, families and other health care professionals from different cultures. Those who are not working or
studying in the health care profession will keep a record of interactions with peers, those with whom you work,
etc. that are from cultures different than your own.
Your diary will help you to 1) record your transcultural verbal and nonverbal communications on a weekly basis;
2) analyze your feelings concerning these transactions; 3) plan strategies for improving your transcultural
communications; and 4) record the outcomes of these strategies. Please see Page 9 of the text (Munoz) for
suggestions related to setting up and maintaining your Transcultural Interaction Diary.
Your diary should be submitted to the course instructor at the end of the semester (see course calendar).
The diary will be evaluated on numbers of entries (minimum of 12), clear analysis of each experience
discussed, including personal thoughts and feelings about the interactions, and strategies outlined for
improving your transcultural communications.
N3580
Cultural Stories
An increasing problem with our health care system involves the "cultural gap" between health care practitioners
and the large numbers of ethnically diverse clients with whom we work.
With this in mind, write two cultural stories this semester related to interactions you have had with a client,
and/or client’s family and/or another health care provider who were from a different cultural background than
your own. These interactions must have impacted you in some way, i.e. raised some questions, posed a
problem and/or caused you to think about the situation after it occurred. Reflect on the situations and critically
analyze them. Include a description of: **
- the clinical situation
- the client, family member and/or health care provider and his/her expectations
- your role in the situation and your expectations
- cultural issues involved; barriers to communication
- frustrations the client, family member and/or HCP felt and why
- frustrations you felt and why
- why you think the situation unfolded as it did
- how the situation was handled
- how the situation ended
- how could you have handled the situation differently in order to provide more
culturally competent care/interactions
- how the situation may have changed the way you think and/or practice nursing
Ideally, the first story should relate to a clinical situation you experienced prior to enrolling in N3580 and the
second story a more recent experience in which you will have had the opportunity to apply some of the cultural
concepts discussed in class. Maintain anonymity of any individuals discussed in the stories by using initials
only. Be prepared to share your stories with peers in class if time allows. Submit your stories on or before the
due dates (see calendar), attached to a private email to me within this course.
** Students who are not working or studying in a health care setting will write stories based on
situations encountered elsewhere, either personal situations, work settings, classroom settings, etc.
Follow the above criteria as closely as possible
First Story Due: See Calendar
Second Story Due: See Calendar
Evaluation Criteria/Cultural Stories
All required areas addressed thoroughly 10 points
Evidence of analysis of the situation
Clarity of expression, organization of ideas,
basic mechanics, grammar, etc. 5 points
Cultural Presentation
Select a specific cultural, ethnic or religious group to study in depth; obtain approval of your selection by faculty
member teaching the course. Conduct a literature search related to the group you have selected. At least one
article related to the group you have selected must be submitted with your reference list prior to your
presentation. Students may also gather presentation data through interviews with members of the group
being study. This information will then be presented to the rest of the class in a face to face classroom setting.
Please note that students will be required to come to campus for these presentations! Dates and times
for these classroom sessions will be announced at the beginning of the semester. The number of classroom
meetings depends on the number of students enrolled in the course each semester.
Presentations should focus on:
- Traditional perceptions of health and illness
- Traditional healing methods/delivery of health care
- Primary values of the group
- Rituals associated with birth & death/ dying
- Perceptions of time, orientation, family roles and gender issues
- Religious influences impacting health & illness
- Dietary practices / role of food in health & illness
- Reaction to and expression of pain
- Current health care problems of the group
- Implications for nursing practice
Students may arrange for a member of the selected ethnic group to conduct the class presentation. If this
option is chosen, the student will serve as a facilitator for the guest speaker, making sure that each of the focus
areas are addressed and that the presentation remains within the allotted time limit.
Students, and guest speakers, are encouraged to bring in any type of visuals associated with the group in order
to stimulate interest and group discussion. Such things as representative clothing, art, music, foods,
medicines, etc.help to increase the involvement of the group.
Presentation Criteria:
1. A written reference list and a hard copy of one article (per student) related to the cultural group being
researched. Reference list and article must be submitted to faculty member before the presentation
begins.
2. Documentation of each student’s individual contribution to the assignment (if applicable)
3. Allotment of 45 minutes for each presentation.
Evaluation
Cultural Presentation
Criteria Potential Points Actual Points
I. Demonstrates Knowledge of selected cultural group: 15 points
a. through interaction with speaker or
b. through presentation of research data
c. focused on nursing implications
II. Reference list/article 5 points
a. 1 appropriate article per student
b. submitted on time
III. Presentation Style 15 points
a. creative presentation & use of visuals
b. effective delivery skills
c. facilitated interest and involvement of group
d. remained within specified time frame
Student(s) ______________________
______________________
Cultural/Ethnic/Racial/Religious Group: _________________________
Date: __________
Total Points: __________
Cultural Definitions
1. Culture: A learned behavioral response acquired over time; includes explicit and
implicit beliefs, attitudes, values, customs, norms, and life ways. Culture is primarily
learned and transmitted within the family; it is shared by the majority of the group
2. Cultural Diversity: Refers to diversity in race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion,
age, gender, social and economic status, education, occupation, religious orientation,
and other related attributes of groups of people in society
3. Cultural Sensitivity: Experienced when neutral language, both verbal and nonverbal, is
used in a way that reflects appreciation for the diversity of the other; awareness of the
existence of cultural differences and similarities and that they have an effect on values,
beliefs, learning and behavior
4. Cultural Awareness: Being knowledgeable about one’s own thought, feelings and
sensations and having an appreciation of the diversity of others
5. Cultural Competence: Having the knowledge, understanding and skills about a diverse
cultural group that allows the health care provider to provide effective cultural care;
competence is an ongoing process that involves accepting and respecting differences
6. Holistic Health Care: An approach to health care that addresses all aspects of a
person’s health including physical, psychological, social and cultural factors
7. Multicultural: Of or relating to or including several cultures
8. Transcultural: Merging and converging cultures; extending through all human cultures
9. Stereotype: A simplified and standardized conception, image, opinion or belief about a
person or group; a health care provider who fails to recognize individuality within a
group is stereotyping
10. Generalization: Begin with assumptions about the individual or group but leads to
further information seeking/clarification
11. Ethnocentrism: A universal tendency to believe that one’s own belief system is superior to
another’s; often expressed in the health care system
