Structural equation modeling of the association between professional and cultural competencies of nurses in Saudi Arabia

Aim: To determine the influence of Saudi nurses' professional competencies on their cultural competency using the structural equation model (SEM).

Background: Nurses are an essential component of the health care delivery system; it is crucial to understand their professional and cultural competencies. However, these concepts remain underreported from a middle eastern perspective.

Design: A correlational, cross-sectional design.

Methods: Data were collected using two self-report instruments from 587 nurses employed in three government-run tertiary hospitals in Saudi Arabia. Spearman rho and SEM were performed to analyze the relationships of the studied variables.

Results: The emerging model showed acceptable model fit indices. Among the six dimensions of professional competency, only three significantly influence cultural competency. Specifically, both care pedagogics and medical and technical care had a moderate, positive influence on cultural competency. Contrastingly, value-based nursing care had a moderate but negative influence on cultural competency.

Conclusions: Cultural competency is a complex and underused nursing concept influenced by nurses' professional competencies. The knowledge acquired from the presented model can be used by nurse leaders, administrators and educators in developing appropriate policies, programs and strategies.