Emergency nurses’ practices for foreign patients

Abstract

Aims: To explore nurses’ perspectives on providing emergency nursing services to foreign patients.

Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 nurses with experience in caring for foreign patients in emergency departments or critical care centers.

Results: Four categories and 16 subcategories were extracted: “Practices with consideration for communication,” “Practices with consideration for emergency situations,” “Practices with awareness of differences in culture and physical characteristics,” and “Practices with awareness of dilemmas in dealing with foreign patients.” Emergency nurses, when dealing with non-Japanese patients, practiced “Practices with consideration for communication” such as “preparation of communication tools,” and “Practices with consideration for emergency situations” such as “judgment of urgency and severity of illness.” They also practiced with awareness of cultural and physical differences, including “support based on empathy and compassion,” while at the same time facing “Practices with awareness of dilemmas in dealing with foreign patients,” such as “nursing practice in the face of insufficient linguistic communication.”

Discussion: The emergency nurses were considerate of foreign patients and attempted to treat them according to the culture of their home countries. They appeared to empathize with foreign patients and tried to provide them with a sense of security by responding to their needs. On the other hand, emergency nurses attempted to communicate clearly but faced dilemmas in dealing with foreign patients. It was suggested that there is a need to consider the use of interpreting devices and collaboration with medical interpreters, as well as non-verbal communication, to provide educational support for language and information gathering that can help foreign patients feel more comfortable.