The impact of cultural immersion service learning on BSN graduates: A quasi-experimental evaluation*

Aim/Objective: The cultural immersion service-learning model evaluated in this study sought to facilitate cultural consciousness of culturally congruent nursing care among predominantly White nursing students attending a university that was racially and culturally homogeneous. Background: Evidence supports the use of cultural immersion service learning during undergraduate nursing programs in developing the skills necessary for effective transcultural healthcare; yet, little is known about its impact beyond the semester of the experience. Design: This project used a quasi-experimental design to determine if transcultural self-efficacy of BSN graduates among five campuses differed. Methods: One campus of the five conducted a mandatory cultural immersion service-learning experience during the graduates' junior year. From a population of 94 BSN graduates of which 30 (32%) graduates participated in the cultural immersion service-learning experience, 53 completed the Transcultural Self-Efficacy Tool. Eighteen (34%) of the graduates who participated in the cultural immersion service-learning experience participated in this study. Results: The transcultural self-efficacy was significantly greater in those graduates who participated in the cultural immersion service-learning experience; yet, no difference was found among graduates of the four campuses not offering the experience. Conclusions: The cultural immersion service-learning experience seems to provide nursing students from racially and ethnically homogeneous communities with an experiential learning context which facilitates the development of transcultural self-efficacy.