Problem-based learning: an educational strategy to support nurses working in a multicultural community

Physical dislocation of people from their homelands either as refugees, immigrants or exiles has resulted in the creation of multicultural communities which have diverse health needs. Like elsewhere, nurses in Australia have been faced with the challenge of responding to an ever-changing migrant population. A modified problem-based learning project was conducted in Melbourne to assist nurses to enhance their practice of caring for children and families of non-English speaking backgrounds (NESB). Clinical nurses worked with the researchers to develop and trial problem-based educational packages. The packages were designed for use in the clinical areas and graduate nursing programs to assist nurses overcome the cultural and communication difficulties they experienced when caring for people of NESB.