HPU nursing professors Patricia Burrell (left) and Hazel Downing (right) at the 50th Annual Transcultural Nursing Society Nursing Conference in Salt Lake City.
HPU nursing professors Hazel Downing, RN, Ed.D., and Patricia Burrell, Ph.D., APRN, brought their knowledge to the 50th Annual Transcultural Nursing Society (TCNS) Conference, held in Salt Lake City, Utah, this October. The conference celebrated five decades of advancing transcultural nursing, with the theme, Envision the Future, Honor the Past: A Half-Century of Advancement in Transcultural Practice, Education, Research, and Administration.
Downing and Burrell presented research that reflects HPU’s commitment to preparing future healthcare professionals with the skills to provide equitable and culturally competent care.
Downing’s presentation was titled, Cultural Considerations for Artificial Intelligence in Nursing Care, and she noted that her aim was “to address the knowledge gap among nurses on AI-generated nursing care and prepare them to provide ethical healthcare to diverse populations.”
Downing outlined strategies to promote cultural sensitivity in AI-driven nursing practice, emphasizing the importance of designing AI tools that account for cultural and demographic diversity. “To ensure patient-centered outcomes, it is imperative that AI-generated nursing care is designed to acknowledge and address cultural and demographic diversity,” Downing said. She also discussed evidence-based approaches to educating nurses, including fostering cultural competence among AI developers and advocating for transparency, responsibility, and accountability in healthcare technologies.
“Inclusiveness and equity are among the key principles identified by the WHO (2023) for AI in healthcare,” Downing shared. “Use of AI in nursing is expected to increase, leaving culturally diverse patients and nurses unprepared. Nurses must be prepared to apply ethical standards to AI-driven care to diverse populations.”
Downing also connected her research to her work with HPU nursing students. “I see the benefits of cultural awareness in AI for the diverse student nurse population at HPU,” she said. “My presentation not only enhanced students’ awareness of AI in healthcare but also encouraged them to pursue a role of advocating for the diverse patient population.”
Burrell, who earned her doctorate under TCNS founder Madeleine Leininger, presented her research, Nursing, Pre-Med & Public Health Cultural Competence: Transcultural Self-Efficacy in Health Care Students, during a poster session. Her study explored methods to enhance cultural competence among healthcare students, helping them provide inclusive care in increasingly diverse clinical settings.
Reflecting on the conference’s milestone anniversary, Burrell highlighted its importance. “The Transcultural Nursing Society has been a major source of knowledge and inspiration around the world. It was an exciting time to be at the fiftieth anniversary in Salt Lake City, and to see and engage with so many conference participants,” she shared.
“The participation of both Dr. Downing and Dr. Burrell with this Annual Transcultural Nursing Society conference shows their commitment of rejuvenating HPU Transcultural Nursing Center. We want students to take the certificate so it can be an added tool for a culturally competent patient centered care,” said HPU Dean of the School of Nursing, Professor Edna Magpantay-Monroe, Ed.D., APRN, CMDCP.
The TCNS conference celebrated a legacy of promoting culturally congruent care worldwide. Its mission—to enhance culturally competent practice, education, and research—aligns closely with HPU’s goal of preparing globally minded healthcare professionals.
To learn more about the HPU School of Nursing, click here.
