Nursing Care of Limited English Proficient (LEP) Adults with Cancer: Cultural Awareness Among Oncology Nurses

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  • May 14, 2019
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  • Betancur Grondona, Stephanie
    • Affiliation: School of Nursing
Abstract
  • With the changing demographic landscape, cancer hospitals throughout the United States have seen an increase in the number of adults with cancer who are considered Limited English Proficient (LEP). This population will need culturally responsive care provided to them by frontline health care professionals such as nurses. Cultural awareness enables nurses to understand the needs of patients and employ unconditional positive regard despite differences in race, language, or culture. Culturally aware nurses are mindful of their unconscious biases and are able to provide high quality and equitable care even when cultural differences exist or a language barrier is present, thus ensuring positive health outcomes. The purpose of this study is to assess cultural awareness among oncology nurses and identify areas in need of cross-cultural training and educational development. A cross-sectional study design was conducted in the form of an online survey containing rating scale and open-ended questions. The sample was 44 oncology nurses from an oncology adult inpatient unit in a large medical center. In addition to evaluating cultural awareness on the unit, nurses were asked about challenges when providing care to LEP Latinx adult patients with cancer. The results of the cross-sectional study showed a moderate to high level of cultural awareness among participants. Despite having a moderate to high level of cultural awareness, participants expressed the urgent need for tools and resources that would allow them to provide equitable and safe care to LEP Latinx adult patients with cancer. According to participants, tools and resources such as an assigned unit interpreter, an increase in bilingual nursing staff, and free Spanish lessons offered to unit staff would aid in the ability to provide culturally responsive care.
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  • Funding: Sarah Steele Danhoff Undergraduate Research Fund
  • Funding: Sigma Theta Tau International, Alpha Alpha Chapter Research Grant program
Advisor
  • Leak Bryant, Ashley
Degree
  • Bachelor of Science
Academic concentration
  • Nursing
Honors level
  • Honors
Degree granting institution
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Graduation year
  • 2019
Language
  • English

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file details Senior Honors Thesis Final Stephanie Betancur Grondona.pdf 2019-05-18 Public Download
file details Appendix A-G Stephanie Betancur Grondona.pdf 2019-05-18 Public Download