Today's nurses work and live in a multicultural society where they encounter patients whose backgrounds are different from theirs, and who need care from nurses who are both proficient in their work and knowledgeable about the role that culture plays in patient treatment. In this study, 45 student nurses enrolled in a baccalaureate program at a northeastern urban college completed a survey about their perceptions of care and culture including their relevance and application to the practice of nursing. Findings based on qualitative analyses indicated that parents and family were instrumental in students' learning about care and a combination of family and educators influenced their learning about culture. Responses revealed that while the importance of obtaining specific cultural information from patients through effective communication was noted, the use of an interpreter was considered important by only one student. This finding is problematic since students were unaware of the importance of utilizing interpreter services when caring for a patient who has limited knowledge of the English language. The findings of this survey suggest the need for further transcultural education on the baccalaureate nursing level specifically as it pertains to communication with patients of diverse cultures in the provision of care.