Preparing nurses to care for minority ethnic communities

UK healthcare policy is increasingly emphasizing the need for healthcare services to be responsive to ethnic diversity. In recognizing the important role that nurses and midwives play in healthcare delivery, the English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting--the statutory professional body that oversees nursing and midwifery education in England-commissioned a two-year research project to examine the extent to which nurses and midwives were prepared to work in a multi-ethnic society. The study found that not all practitioners were equipped to provide appropriate care to multi-ethnic populations. Below an overview of the study, which identifies some issues that may be of relevance to other countries.