Greek Military Nurses Readiness to Provide Transcultural Care to Immigrants

Aim: The aim of this study is to explore the cultural competence of military nurses in Greece by measuring levels of cultural knowledge, empathy and cultural skills.

Methodology: It is a quantitative, non-experimental, correlational design in which the researchers determined cultural competence of Greek military nurses. The Transcultural Self-Efficacy Tool (TSET) was used to measure cognitive, practical, and affective level, using self-rated, scale-weighted questions from 1–not confident to 10–totally confident. The distribution and collection of questionnaires was conducted from February to March 2015. The study sample consisted of 127 Military Nurses of the Armed Forces throughout Greece. The response rate was 98% (RR).

Results: Mean value of cognitive subscale was found to be 7.2 (SD=1.7) of affective subscale was 6.9 (SD=1.8) while mean value of practical subscale were found to be 7.8 (SD=1.5). Using multiple linear regression analysis it was found that Military nurses with a master degree or a PhD rated 0.77 greater score in cognitive subscale, 1.09 greater score in affective subscale, those who had problem dealing with managing patients with different cultural backgrounds had scored 0.88 lower in cognitive subscale, 0.90 lower score in affective subscale, 0.90 lower score in practical subscale and those who thought that the resolution of problems arising with patients from different cultural environments is of medium or of much importance rated 0.80 higher in cognitive subscale, 1.18 higher in affective subscale, 1.01 higher in practical subscale. Military nurses who had been trained in transcultural care after graduation scored 1.09 higher in practical subscale.

Conclusion: The ever growing population coming from different cultural backgrounds like immigrants in Greece is a challenge for nurses to provide care based on cultural needs of patients. This study highlights the need for transcultural education for military nurses.