"We chose to be nurses; they don't choose us" : Nurses Experiences of Cultural Competence when Caring for Forcibly Displaced People: A Qualitative Interview Study

Sammanfattning

Background: The number of forcibly displaced people in the world is increasing. Many face barriers accessing healthcare as well as receive poor quality of care due to lack of cultural knowledge within healthcare. Nurses play a crucial role in caring for forcibly displaced people, and highlighting nurses’ experiences of cultural competence may be essential for improving healthcare interactions. Aim: To describe Portuguese nurses’ experiences of cultural competence when caring for forcibly displaced people. Method: A descriptive qualitative study with an inductive approach was used. Data was collected through individual semi-structured interviews and was analyzed using Braun & Clarks model for thematic analysis. Result: Four themes were identified: Growing through Experience and Continuous Learning, Emotional Engagement and Inner Reflection, Understanding Beyond Language and Tailoring Care to Patients’ Needs. The nurses described cultural competence as a continuous process. Furthermore, the nurses described cultural competence as an essential part of providing quality care to forcibly displaced people. Conclusion: Cultural competence contributes more effective, higher quality and safer care to forcibly displaced people. Integrating cultural competence in the care of forcibly displaced people contributes to improving the caring relationship, better health outcomes and reducing health inequalities.