Preventing Conflicts Between Nurses and Families of a Multi-ethnic Patient Population During Critical Medical Situations in a Hospital

Abstract

Introduction: Little is known about how to avoid intercultural nurse–family conflicts in critical care settings. In this article, strategies are discussed that may be useful to prevent or mitigate intercultural nurse–family conflicts during critical medical situations in hospital. Method: Strategies are based on an ethnographic study by Van Keer et al., other literature, and expert opinion. Results: Sufficient structural measures are needed. First, institutions must create appropriate ward policies, such as including nurses in end-of-life communication. Second, nurses should be coached in the workplace. Third, institutions must provide adapted, visual, ward information to families. Additionally, education and research are needed. These measures should be actively stimulated by nurse managers and reflect a multicultural program supported by the hospital. Discussion: Intercultural nurse–family conflict prevention or mitigation should take into account organizational aspects, on hospital units and in hospital as a whole, and the crucial role of education and research.

Determination of the anxiety and the needs of family members of critical care patients in emergency departments

“…These problems may result in conflicts between health professionals and family members. Therefore, it is very important to identify family members' needs, to attempt to meet stated needs, and to control their anxiety (10). However, the number of studies on identifying the anxiety and needs of patients' family members is limited.…”

Prejudiced Attitudes of Nursing Students in Southern Spain Toward Migrant Patients

“…More and more universities are including nursing content related to cultural competence, culturally congruent health care, and attention to cultural diversity in their undergraduate coursework. There are numerous studies that highlight the importance of such training to avoid prejudices and discriminatory attitudes in new nurses (Nielsen et al, 2019; Plaza Del Pino, 2017; Van Keer et al, 2020), although it may also be necessary to develop other initiatives, not only among students, but also with nurses and other health care professionals, to change these types of attitudes (Noble et al, 2014; Plaza del Pino, 2017). Formal education can have positive effects on the reduction of prejudiced attitudes toward migrants (Easterbrook et al, 2016), although the data available are not conclusive (Civalero et al, 2019).…”

Cultural alienation: A concept analysis

“…To mitigate those consequences, intercultural coaching of nursing in the workplace can be organized where nurses can appreciate and/or discover new cultural knowledge in the context of their work environment and how to specifically perform nursing tasks in a culturally sensitive manner. Van Keer et al 36 found that “during these sessions, nurses can share their positive and negative experiences of encounters with ethnically diverse families and possible solutions for intercultural communication difficulties can be discussed.” The nurse should ask clients if they have any outstanding cultural, religious, or spiritual factors that staff need to be aware of before, during, and after their care, as variances within a culture exist. For patients who cannot speak, read, or write in the dominant language well, recruitment of nurses with different ethnic background are recommended to help explain information in the language that patients prefer 36 .…”

“…Van Keer et al 36 found that “during these sessions, nurses can share their positive and negative experiences of encounters with ethnically diverse families and possible solutions for intercultural communication difficulties can be discussed.” The nurse should ask clients if they have any outstanding cultural, religious, or spiritual factors that staff need to be aware of before, during, and after their care, as variances within a culture exist. For patients who cannot speak, read, or write in the dominant language well, recruitment of nurses with different ethnic background are recommended to help explain information in the language that patients prefer 36 . Nurses from ethnic minority groups can more easily provide inside information to health care professionals from the dominant ethnic group about specific customs or traditions which can affect the care process, and conversely, inform families about regulations in the hospital 36,37 …”

“…For patients who cannot speak, read, or write in the dominant language well, recruitment of nurses with different ethnic background are recommended to help explain information in the language that patients prefer 36 . Nurses from ethnic minority groups can more easily provide inside information to health care professionals from the dominant ethnic group about specific customs or traditions which can affect the care process, and conversely, inform families about regulations in the hospital 36,37 …”