Issues commonly faced by nurses caring for international patients: A qualitative study.

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• International Health
• Cross-cultural Communication

Background:

• Global medical internationalization is increasing patient diversity.
• Nurses encounter significant language and socio-cultural barriers when caring for international patients.
• Limited research exists on the specific challenges nurses face in this evolving healthcare landscape.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and analyze the common challenges encountered by nurses caring for international patients.
• To provide insights into the difficulties arising from language, cultural, and systemic differences.
• To inform strategies for enhancing nursing care for a diverse patient population.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study utilizing semistructured interviews with 11 experienced registered nurses.
• Analysis of nurse experiences in caring for non-Japanese patients.
• Application of Mayring's qualitative content analysis approach.

Main Results:

• Identified 8 core categories of challenges: language, religion/culture, medical culture, financial status, treatment continuity, care support, hospital protocols, and patient requests.
• Detailed analysis of 56 subcategories and 23 categories of nurse-identified difficulties.
• Highlighted significant barriers related to diverse patient backgrounds and healthcare system navigation.

Conclusions:

• Nurses require better access to cross-cultural information to accommodate diverse patient religions, lifestyles, and cultures.
• Addressing cultural differences is vital to prevent potential malpractice and improve patient safety.
• Sharing experiences and preparing for an increasing number of international patients is essential for nursing policy and practice.