Achieving culturally competent mental health care: A mixed-methods study drawing on the perspectives of UK nursing students

Purpose This study aimed to examine the degree of cross-cultural competency among UK mental health student nurses, and the care delivery challenges arising from their internalized cultural assumptions. Design and Methods This study adopted a mixed-methods design. Participants were final-year nursing students in the United Kingdom. Findings The results revealed participants had a moderate level of cultural awareness and competency but highlighted many challenges to providing cross-cultural care arising from the meanings, enablers, and values they attributed to culturally competent mental health care. Practice Implications As cultural competency is considered an essential characteristic of effective nursing care, greater attention should be paid to how student nurses assimilate cultural awareness to develop confidence in their day-to-day practice.