International First for Nursing Professor
A nursing professor at UCE Birmingham is the first Brit to be awarded the title of Transcultural Scholar, and only the second person to receive the award outside of the United States. Paula McGee from Harborne received the award in recognition of her contribution to the transcultural nursing field following her promotion of knowledge and understanding in transcultural practice through research, education and publishing.
The award, attributed by the Transcultural Nursing Society (TCNS), rewards creative leaders demonstrating experience, insight, imagination and leadership to facilitate research, education and practice of transcultural nursing and healthcare. Transcultural nursing recognises different patients have different cultural beliefs relating to religion, values, society, language and expectations. As we now live in a diverse multicultural society it is important that these beliefs are recognised to meet the healthcare needs of the patient.
Professor McGee said: “It is a great honour to receive this award. It is my passion to continue learning about the differences in society so that I can pass this knowledge onto our practising healthcare workers so they are able to understand their patient’s needs better.
“I have been involved in teaching and research since 1982 and am very proud of what I have achieved during this time. When I first started in this field there was little written about the cultural differences within our society but there is now a good body of literature to help students and practising nurses. I have also been chair of the UK Transcultural Nursing and Healthcare Association, where our annual conference grew from a small attendance to a large international affair. My greatest achievement however was becoming the editor of the journal ‘Diversity in Health and Social Care’ and launching this as an international peer review publication that looks at transcultural issues from around the world."
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