Educating the Culturally Diverse Healthcare Student

Abstract

Diversity among healthcare students is increasing as the population of the United States changes in composition. Preparation of the culturally diverse healthcare student presents a challenge for recruitment, education, and retention. The problems of education can be ameliorated by a thorough assessment of the culturally diverse student using the Giger and Davidhizar model. The student should be assessed for differences by considering six interrelated factors: communication, space, time, social organization, environmental control, and biological variations. Understanding the differences that exist in these areas is a first step toward appreciating the diversity among people of varied cultures.