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Abstract
This study provides an in-depth phenomenological description and identification of the cultural experiences of Korean nurses caring for foreign patients. Twelve nurses were selected by means of theoretical sampling and the data were collected from personal, in-depth interviews. Five categories were identified from twelve themes: 1) fear and misunderstanding arising from language differences, 2) conflict arising from cultural barriers, 3) encountering limitations in work, 4) accepting cultural differences, and 5) overcoming conflicts and excelling. These results show that in order to understand the cultural experiences of nurses taking care of foreign patients.
Key Words: Experience, Culture, Nurse, Foreign patients, Phenomenology
1.Introduction
Korea has rapidly become a multiracial and multicultural society. As a result, among the total number of foreign patients who came to Korea, the number of foreign inpatients has increased from 6,707 in 2009 to 184,782 in 2012 [1]. As more foreign patients with severe illnesses are being hospitalized in Korea, Korean nurses are facing more opportunities to interact with foreign patients, while they are expected to provide internationally acceptable and transcultural quality care for them.
Korean nurses need to be well-informed and knowledgeable about cultural differences and international health issues, so they can provide foreign patients with safe nursing care, that is both culturally congruent and universal, to improve the health and well-being of foreign patients [2]. The more opportunities nurses have to be exposed to a diversity of cultures, the more improvement there will be in their cultural competence, knowledge, and technical aspects of caring for foreign patients. This is considered one of the most important qualities that transcultural nurses need to develop. Despite the importance of transcultural nursing, nurses who provide foreign patients with nursing care experience many difficulties. One of the most significant problems with foreign patients is the language barrier. Even worse, due to the lack of knowledge and understanding of a foreign patient's culture, nurses have trouble providing comprehensive nursing care, tailored to the physical, psychological, emotional, and social needs of foreign patients [3]. Cultural differences in beliefs, values, and expectations of care definitely have an impact on nursing practices As a result, the lack of experience in caring for foreign patients, as well as the unfamiliar situations that nurses encounter when caring for patients with...