Abstract

Introduction: Providing nursing care based on observing cultural differences is very influential in the relationship between nurse and patient. Nurses who are not able to recognize and adopt different cultures often experience stress in the work setting. The objective of this research was to evaluate the relationship between cultural competence and job burnout among nurses working in selected hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2017. Methodology: This descriptive correlational study was conducted on 232 nurses who are working in selected hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences. They were selected by using simple randomized sampling method. Demographic questionnaire, Moulder Cultural Competence Questionnaire and Maslach Burnout Inventory were used to collect data. Data were analyzed by using Pearson correlation coefficient test and SPSS 16 software. Ethical considerations: After providing complete explanation of the research objectives for subjects, informed consent was taken from them to participate in the research and they were ensured that their information would remain completely confidential and it would not have an effect on their job evaluation process. Results: 73.3% of subjects were female, 65.9% were married, 86.6% had a bachelor level of education, 28% had employment history between 5 and 10 years, and age of most of them (30.6%) was in range of 31-35 years. There was an inverse correlation between dimensions of cultural competence and dimensions of burnout, but it was not statistically significant (p >0.05). Significant correlation was also found between the depersonalization and preparedness for cultural care (p = 0.046).  Additionally, in the females group, a reverse and significant correlation was found between the dimension of emotional exhaustion and attitudes in cultural care (p = 0.01), and reverse and significant correlation was found between dimension of reduced personal success and attitude in cultural care (p = 0.04). In addition, dimensions of emotional exhaustion and reduction of personal success showed reverse and significant correlation with cultural competence (p = 0.000). Conclusion: The results of this research revealed that cultural competence is associated with job burnout among nurses and it is necessary to develop supportive and educational strategies to enhance the nurses' cultural competence in the work setting in order to reduce the stress and burnout caused by cultural shock.