Psychosocial work environment and cross-cultural competence among native and foreign-born registered nurses

Cross-cultural competence is an essential component of the nursing profession, but little is known about the specific psychosocial work characteristics that potentially promote or hinder such competence. In the present study, psychosocial work characteristics were based on Karasek's Job Demand-Control Model. The researchers examined whether Karasek's psychosocial work characteristics, such as high-strain jobs, high-strain isolated jobs, active jobs, and active collective jobs, are associated with cross-cultural competence (empathy, skills, positive attitudes, and motivation), and whether there are differences between native and foreign-born registered nurses (RN) in these potential associations. A random sample of 744 native RNs (91.0% women) and a total sample (n = 212) of foreign-born RNs (94.3% women) working in Finland were used. Data were collected using a questionnaire and analyzed with a series of multiple linear regression analyses. High-strain and high-strain isolated jobs were negatively associated with all four dimensions of cross-cultural competence. Active collective jobs, but not active jobs, were positively associated with cross-cultural skills. There were no differences between native and migrant nurses in these associations. The psychosocial work environment is associated with cross-cultural competence in both native and migrant nurses. Improvements in psychosocial working conditions, especially minimizing negative factors in the work environment, such as high-strain and high-strain isolated jobs, may need to be considered as a part of the efforts aimed to enhance cross-cultural competence among nursing personnel.