Nursing students’ experiences with improving cultural competence through education and practices in rural Indonesia: a qualitative study^†

Abstract Objective The importance of culture in nursing lies in its influence on patients’ health perceptions, behaviors, and responses to care. Despite the challenges posed by the complexity of studying culture, there remains a critical need to develop cultural competence in nursing. This study investigated how nursing students in rural Indonesia enhance their cultural competence through education and practice. Methods This study employed a qualitative descriptive phenomenological approach. It conducted face-to-face interviews with 32 students across 6 regions, selected purposively. Thematic analysis was employed to evaluate the results. Results Five themes emerge in this research: perceptions of cultural competence, learning cultural competence in the classroom, practical experience, learning expectations related to cultural competence, and cultural learning barriers. Conclusions Enhancing cultural competence necessitates enriched curricula, adept clinical mentors, and continual student evaluation. This iterative assessment informs tailored strategies for nurturing cultural proficiency.