Training Intercultural Competence of Nurse Educators Online: A Design-Based Research Approach

INTRODUCTION: Few cultural competence interventions exist for nurse educators who shape students' cultural competence. This article thus details the design, implementation, and evaluation (2021-2024) of an online cultural competence training program (TraINErS) for nurse educators and proposes design principles. METHODS: Following a design-based research approach, there were two development and testing cycles (TraINErS1.0 and TraINErS2.0), involving a multidisciplinary European team, with two corresponding testing cycles with nurse educators (N1 = 16; N2 = 22) from seven European countries. Data were collected through user reports, an evaluation questionnaire, and the System Usability Scale. RESULTS: Testing TraINErS1.0 led to content and sequencing adjustments. TraINErS2.0 achieved positive evaluations and high system usability scores (80.44). Participants valued flexibility and self-paced learning but noted asynchronous challenges. The resulting design principles emphasize metacognitive awareness, experiential learning, multimedia use, and motivation mechanisms. DISCUSSION: These principles can guide the design of online nurse educator training, preparing them to produce culturally competent nursing professionals.