Differences in universal diverse orientation among nursing students in Australia

With globalization and intensified migration, an attitude of awareness and acceptance of both similarities and differences among people—known as universal-diverse orientation (UDO)—is a positive benefit that students may bring to a nursing program. Using a cross-sectional survey design, this study measured students’ UDO using the Miville-Guzman Universality-Diversity Scale-Short Form (M-GUDS-S). Among 816 nursing students, those born in a non-English–speaking country had higher M-GUDS-S scores (P < 0.001), and those who spoke both English and non-English at home had consistently higher scores in all three M-GUDS-S subscales. However, those who never spoke English at home had low scores in the “Comfort with Differences” subscale if they had lived in Australia for only a few years. Nursing students from a non-English–speaking background could potentially enrich cross-cultural educational experiences for all students, but students who have recently settled in Australia may need support to feel a sense of connectedness.