[Multi-ethnic nursing]

Among the many activities of nurses, the role of intermediary between the client and the health institutions is one of the most important . In this role, nurses may have to deal with cultural conflicts in order to fulfill the requirements of a multi-ethnic client population coming from may different cultures. By adopting an instrument capable of assessing the trans-cultural and inter-cultural knowledge of nurses, it may be possible to fill in any gaps by means of appropriate training or education. The study was performed using an anonymous questionnaire issued to the nurses working in the out-patient structures of the Gynaecological and Maternity Department of the Vittorio Emanuele II Hospital in Catania, which deals with the highest number of non-EEC citizens. The results of the questionnaire indicated that educational intervention to improve knowledge of the principal aspects of transcultural and intercultural nursing , as well as other anthropological and caring aspects was required.