Immersion in another culture: one strategy for increasing cultural competency.

Educating nursing students in the United States to be culturally competent is a challenge. Undergraduate and graduate nursing students, including nurse-midwifery students were paired with faculty on a short-term transcultural nursing experience in Choluteca, Honduras. Students provided health screenings, prenatal assessments, and birth attendance. Learning objectives were designed to improve cultural competency in the healthcare setting for nursing students. A case study exemplar in the labor and delivery setting is presented. As a result of the cultural immersion experience, the student demonstrates versatility and flexibility in clinical practice, reflecting the skills necessary to adapt interventions to populations and circumstances.