Educational needs of nurses when nursing people of a different culture in Ireland

Over the last 10-15 years, there has been a dramatic change in the population of the Republic of Ireland (ROI). Because of strong economic growth, a buoyant economy and universal population migration, the ROI has moved from a mono to a multicultural society over a relatively short period of time. Therefore, nurses in this state have limited experience of caring for people of a different culture.

To discuss registered nurses' experiences in the ROI of nursing people from a different culture.

The study design was qualitative and participants were purposively sampled (n = 7). Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and thematically analysed.

The main themes to emerge from the interviews were: dealing with cultural issues in practice; accessing and using the interpreter service; planning and taking action to improve nursing care for patients from a different culture.

Support and education is needed by nurses to improve nursing care of people from a different culture.

Recommendations for practice are to: develop transcultural nursing education; promote an ethos of providing culturally competent and culturally safe nursing to people of another culture; improve resources available to nurses; provide easier access to formal interpreter services with continuity of interpreters for patients and conduct further research into aspects of health care in multicultural Ireland.