Intensive care nurses’ encounters with multicultural families in Norway: An exploratory study

Abstract

SummaryThe aim of this study was to explore nurses' perceptions of their encounters with multicultural families in intensive care units in Norwegian hospitals. Immigrants from non-Western countries make up 6.1% of the population in Norway. When a person suffers an acute and critical illness the person's family may experience crises. Nurses' previous experiences of caring for culturally diverse patients and families is challenging due to linguistic differences, and contextual factors. Family members should be near their critically ill spouse to reduce the impact from a frightening environment.The study had a descriptive exploratory qualitative design with a retrospective focus. Three multistage focus groups consisting of 16 nurses were set up in intensive care units. The data were analysed by interpretive content analysis. The theme ‗Cultural diversity and workplace stressors' emerged. This theme was characterised by four categories: ‗impact on work patterns'; ‗communication challenges'; ‗responses to crises' and ‗professional status and gender issues'. In conclusion, nurses' perception of their encounters with multicultural families in intensive care units seem to be ambiguous with challenges in interaction, and the nurses' stressors emanating from linguistic, cultural and ethnic differentness. To diminish cultural diversity the nurses strive for increased knowledge of different cultures and religions.

Multicultural family members’ experiences with nurses and the intensive care context: A hermeneutic study

“…They struggle to take care of and protect their own cultural traditions in the context of a western medical model and interaction with the nurses in the ICU. Reflecting on their experiences with culturally diverse family members, intensive care nurses themselves described events as challenging and somewhat ambiguous (Høye and Severinsson, 2008). …”

“…ICU nurses have expressed concerns about the potential disruption caused by large family groups fulfilling a cultural obligation to gather during a health crisis (Høye and Severinsson, 2008). With regard to other traditions, the participants reported that the nurses were sensitive to multicultural families' religious symbols, headwear and rituals and thus seemed to meet their expectations and wishes.…”

Migrant and minority family members in the intensive care unit. A review of the literature

“…Language barriers, inadequate translation, and mistrust precipitated by lack of explanation from the nurse created emotional stress for the parents [26]. Families verbalized in the posthospital experience that if the nurses had informed them of visiting policies early on, they would have been able to function within the rules more appropriately [21]. Parents of NICU patients from this study suggest strategies for improving communication and decreasing stress as follows: answer questions carefully, teach by demonstration, take time to explain in simple English, set up an environment of trust so that families feel “safe” to ask questions [46].…”

Four categories of patient participation in treatment and their linkage to decision-making in a structure of 81 models

“…The manifest content analysis pertained to what both the healthcare professionals and the patients expressed; whereas, the latent content analysis pertained to the meaning of what they stated. Examples of related research are Granerud and Severinsson, 20 Høye and Severinsson, 21 Nystedt et al 22 The second manner analyzes manifest content, exemplified by Hök et al 23 They identified, coded and sorted into categories without meaning analysis. The third manner analyzes latent content, exemplified by Gustafsson et al 24 They explored older people's body experiences, developing meaning units, condensed meaning units, and themes, without explicit categorization.…”