First generation immigrant and native nurses enacting good care in a nursing home

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Sociology
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Limited understanding of collaboration between immigrant and native nurses in European elder care settings.
• Focus on first-generation immigrant nurses' experiences in new workplaces.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore interactions between first-generation immigrant nurses and native nurses in a Dutch nursing home.
• To understand the dynamics of care for aging residents.

Main Methods:

• Ethnographic approach with 105 hours of shadowing.
• Semi-structured interviews with 8 nurses (4 immigrant, 4 native).
• Focus group discussions with 14 nurses (8 immigrant, 6 native).
• Grounded theory analysis.

Main Results:

• Interactions influenced by institutional norms, rules, and protocols.
• Opportunities and challenges observed in daily practice.
• Strict schedules and care standards presented opportunities; resident needs posed challenges.
• Nurses collaboratively developed new practices, creating common ground and an inclusive environment.

Conclusions:

• Small adaptations in nursing practices can foster inclusivity for immigrant nurses.
• These "tinkering moments" support stable workforces and hybrid professional identities.
• Findings inform nursing ethics on "good care" and facilitate immigrant nurse integration in Europe.