This article describes one of the five patterns of teaching, the bridging pattern, which was identified by the author in a previous qualitative study that investigated the processes by which nurse educators teach ethnically diverse nursing students. An overview of the original study is presented, followed by a discussion of the findings regarding the bridging pattern. Data were obtained through in-depth interviews with 26 nurse educators and 17 nurses representing three population groups: Asian Americans, African Americans, and Mexican Americans. In the bridging pattern, educators encourage students to maintain their ethnic identity, and teaching-learning strategies are modified to meet the cultural needs of students. The conditions, actions and consequences involved in the bridging approach to teaching are described and examples that emerged from the data are presented as illustrations. Examination of the actions of the bridging faculty may assist educators to analyze their own approach to teaching ethnically diverse students.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Abriam-Yago, K. , Yoder, M., & Kataoka-Yahiro, M. (1999). The Cummins model: A framework for teaching nursing students for whom English is a second language. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 10, 143-149.
2.
Banks, J. A. (1995). Multicultural education and curriculum transformation. Journal of Negro Education, 65(4), 390-400.
3.
Bintz, W. (1995). Reflections on teaching in multicultural settings. Social Studies, 86(1), 39-42.
4.
Campbell, A. R. , & Davis, S. M. (1996). Faculty commitment: Retaining minority nursing students in majority institutions. Journal of Nursing Education, 35(7), 298-303.
5.
Coffman, J. , & Spetz, J. (1999). Maintaining an adequate supply of RNs in California. Image: Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 31(4), 389-393.
6.
Crow, K. (1993). Multiculturalism and pluralistic thought in nursing education: Native American worldview and the nursing academic worldview. Journal of Nursing Education, 32(50), 198-204.
7.
Culley, L. (1996). A critique of multiculturalism in health care: The challenge for nurse education. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 23(3), 564-570.
8.
Davidhizar, R. , Dowd, S. B., & Giger, J. N. (1998). Educating the culturally diverse healthcare student. Nurse Educator, 23(2), 38-42.
9.
Davis, S. P. (1995). A challenge to develop a new paradigm shift in nursing education. Journal of Cultural Diversity, 2(4), 124-135.
10.
Dickerson, S. , & Neary, M. (1999). Faculty experiences teaching Native Americans in a university setting. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 10, 56-64.
11.
Dowell, M. A. (1996). Issues in recruitment and retention of minority nursing students. Journal of Nursing Education, 35(7), 293-297.
12.
Eliason, M. J. (1998). Research briefs. Correlates of prejudice in nursing students. Journal of Nursing Education, 37(1), 27-29.
13.
Garcia, E. E. (1995). The impact of linguistic and cultural diversity on America’s schools: A need of new policy. In M. C. Wang & M. C. Reynolds (Eds.), Making a difference for students at risk: Trends and alternatives. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
14.
Gonzalez, L. (1994). Faculty mentors for minority undergraduate students. Journal of Cultural Diversity, 1(4), 90-94.
15.
Grant, C. A. (1995). Reflections on the promise of ‘Brown’ and multicultural education. Teachers College Record, 95(4), 707-721.
16.
Grant, C. A. , & Gomez, M. L. (1996). Making schooling multicultural. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Merrill/Prentice Hall.
17.
Hesser, A. , Pond, E., Lewis, L., & Abbott, B. (1996). Evaluation of a supplementary retention program for African American baccalaureate nursing students. Journal of Nursing Education, 35(7), 304-314.
18.
Jeffreys, M. (1998). Predicting nontraditional student retention and academic achievement. Nurse Educator, 23(1), 42-48.
19.
Jordan, J. (1996). Rethinking race and attrition in nursing programs: A hermeneutic inquiry. Journal of Professional Nursing, 12(6), 382-390.
20.
Kirkland, M. (1998). Stressors and coping strategies among successful female African American baccalaureate nursing students. Journal of Nursing Education, 37(1), 5-12.
21.
Langston-Moss, R. (1997). Experiences and perceptions of Black American female nursing students attending predominantly White nursing programs. Journal of National Black Nurses Association, 9(2), 21-30.
22.
Latham, A. (1997). Responding to cultural learning styles. Educational Leadership, 54(7), 88-89.
23.
Malu, K. F. , & Figlear, M. R. (1998). Enhancing the language development of immigrant ESL nursing students: A case study with recommendations. Nurse Educator, 23(2), 43-46.
24.
Merrill, E. B. (1998). Culturally diverse students enrolled in nursing: Barriers influencing success. Journal of Cultural Diversity, 5(20), 58-65.
25.
Omeri, A. , & Ahern, M. (1999). Utilizing culturally congruent strategies to enhance recruitment and retention of Australian indigenous nursing students. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 10, 150-155.
26.
Rew, L. (1996). Affirming cultural diversity: A pathways model for nursing faculty. Journal of Nursing Education, 35(7), 310-314.
27.
Scheckley, B. G. , & Keeton, M. T. (1995). Increasing the success of adults from diverse populations. Adult Learning, 6(5), 21-22.
28.
Sims, G. , & Baldwin, D. (1995). Race, class, and gender considerations in nursing education. Nursing & Health Care: Perspectives on Community, 16(6), 316-321.
29.
Sleeter, C. E. , & Grant C. A. (1993). Making choices for multicultural education: Five approaches to race, class, and gender (2nd ed.). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Merrill/Prentice Hall.
30.
Stewart, M. (1998). Nurses need to strengthen cultural competence for next century to ensure quality patient care. The American Nurse, 30(1), 26-27.
31.
Trossman, S. (1998). Diversity: A continuing challenge. The American Nurse, 30(1), 1, 24-25.
32.
Yoder, M. K. (1996). Instructional responses to ethnically diverse nursing students. Journal of Nursing Education, 35(7), 315-321.
33.
Yoder, M. K. (1997). The consequences of a generic approach to teaching nursing in a multicultural world. Journal of Cultural Diversity, 4(3), 77-82.
