Nurses' Experiences Caring for Immigrant Patients in Psychiatric Units

Abstract

This study was conducted for the purpose of describing nurses’ experiences caring for immigrant patients in psychiatric units. The topics investigated include how nurses describe the reasons for their immigrant patients’ illnesses, how nurses experience caring for immigrant patients and what kind of impact cultural factors have on nursing. Especially refugees face complex barriers in accessing the health care system, and challenges exist when it comes to delivering high-quality care to this vulnerable population. Qualitative research methods were used in the study, and the main emphasis was on focused ethnography research methods. The informants were nurses (N = 5) working in adult psychiatry wards of the study’s hospitals. Data were collected by means of indepth interviews, observation, field notes and documentation of care by nursing staff of immigrant patients (N=9). Nurses’ experiences caring for immigrant patients formed four stages: admission, the beginning of collaboration and the finishing stage. Suspicions about the asylum process and cultural conflicts add to the workload in nursing. It was not common to use transcultural nursing methods or an interpreter. Family-oriented nursing and use of interpreter services by nurses should be increased in the care of immigrant patients. By becoming aware of the existing challenges, their manifestations and by supporting the professional well being of psychiatric nurses, enables them to concentrate to the essence of compassionate nursing as well as to ensure the rights of the patients.