https://doi.org/10.1177/10436596221086600 Journal of Transcultural Nursing 1–10 © The Author(s) 2022 Article reuse guidelines: sagepub.com/journals-permissions DOI: 10.1177/10436596221086600 journals.sagepub.com/home/tcn Research Introduction With an ever-increasing world population, migration has become a critical problem due to globalization, natural disas- ters, unemployment, and changes in living conditions (Meydanlıoğlu, 2019). Today, more people live outside their homeland to such an extent that supposing that all interna- tional immigrants live in the same place, it would constitute the fifth most populous country in the world (Levin Institute, 2013). It has been reported that the number of immigrants in Turkey, one of the most affected countries by the mass migra- tion wave, increased by 17.2% in 2019 compared with the previous year and reached 677,042 people. The highest pro- portion of these immigrants is from Iraq, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Syria, and Iran (Turkish Statistical Institute, 2019). Considering the mass population mobility, enhanced cultural diversity in Turkey equally increases the signifi- cance of cultural competence in health services (Başli et al., 2018). Culture is the most important indicator of one’s per- ceptions of health and illness (Lehman et al., 2012). In other words, health-seeking behaviors, health service demands, and adherence to treatment are primarily influenced by cul- ture (Lehman et al., 2012; Öztürk & Öztaş, 2012). Among health professionals, nurses constitute the biggest group that has direct contact with individuals from different cultures (Tortumluoğlu, 2004). International Council of Nurses (ICN, 2012) ethical code predicates that the need for a nursing service is universal and that the nature of nursing requires respect for human rights, cultural rights, the right to live, and the right to choose. In addition, ICN advocates nursing care beyond age, color, belief, culture, and respects disabilities or illnesses, gender, sexual orientation, national- ity, politics, race, or social status. Nursing is basically a cultural phenomenon (ICN, 2012). Nurses who provide culture-specific care are expected to be culturally competent to provide holistic care (Chen & Wang, 2015), which underlines the significance of cultural 1086600TCN XX X 10.1177/10436596221086600Journal of Transcultural NursingCoşkun Erçelik et al. research-article 2022 1 Süleyman Demirel University Research and Application Hospital, Isparta, Turkey Corresponding Author: Tuğçe Çamlica, Öğr. Gör., Health Research and Application Center, Süleyman Demirel University Research and Application Hospital, Isparta 32260, Turkey. Emails: tugceayar94@gmail.com; tugceayar@sdu.edu.tr; tugce.camlica@ bahcesehir.edu.tr An Evaluation of Turkish Nurses’ Cultural Intelligence Levels and Intercultural Communication Apprehension Hamide Coşkun Erçelik, MSc RN 1 , Tuğçe Çamlica, MSc RN 1 , ve Ali Özkan, MSc RN 1 Abstract Introduction: This study aims to discuss cultural intelligence levels and intercultural communication apprehension of nurses. Method: This study was designed as a descriptive and cross-sectional study, and it was conducted with 252 nurses working in a hospital in a south city of Turkey. The research data were collected via a “Personal Information Form” designed by the researchers, “The Cultural Intelligence Scale,” and “The Intercultural Communication Apprehension Scale.” Results: It was concluded that nurses had moderate levels of cultural intelligence and intercultural communication apprehension, which were positively correlated (p < .001). Cultural intelligence levels and intercultural communication apprehension were further correlated with certain variables such as age, gender, job duration, foreign language proficiency, and their experiences in foreign countries (p < .05). Discussion: In light of the results, it was suggested that moderate levels of intercultural communication apprehension can be a supportive factor in developing cultural intelligence. It was also added that preventing excessive intercultural communication apprehension and supporting nurses to improve language skills and to have abroad experience may be beneficial in developing cultural intelligence. Keywords intercultural communication, communication apprehension, cultural intelligence, nurse