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Nurses of NESB working in a multicultural community.
1School of Nursing, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria.
Contemporary Nurse
|January 6, 2001
Summary
Nurses from non-English backgrounds (NESB) found healthcare institutions ignored cultural needs. These institutions fostered an Anglo-Australian culture that discouraged NESB nurses from practicing their own traditions.
Area of Science:
- Nursing
- Sociology
- Cultural Studies
Background:
- Healthcare institutions aim for diverse nursing staff to ensure culturally appropriate care.
- The assumption that diversity alone guarantees culturally sensitive practice is questioned.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore how healthcare institutional structures impact nurses from non-English backgrounds (NESB).
- To investigate the phenomenon of NESB nurses potentially colluding in sustaining an Anglo-Australian health culture.
Main Methods:
- A feminist praxis study was conducted.
- Twenty-six nurses participated, including seven from NESB backgrounds.
Main Results:
- Nurses discovered that the healthcare system overlooked the cultural and linguistic needs of NESB families and children.
- The institutional culture actively trained NESB nurses to disregard their own cultural traditions and practices.
Conclusions:
- Dominant Anglo-Australian healthcare culture can inadvertently suppress the cultural identity of NESB nurses.
- Further examination is needed on how healthcare systems can better support cultural diversity in practice.