An inconvenience to the nurse's practice: A Foucault-inspired study of ethnic minority patients

Ethnic minority patients have been discussed and problematised in Western health literature. Drawing on an interpretation of central parts of the French philosopher Michel Foucault's authorship, we analysed a broad selection of materials to identify mechanisms through which the truth about ethnic minority patients is constructed. We identified a single, yet consistent discursive strategy that we termed 'figure of inconvenience' in which ethnic minority patients were classified and assigned a specific subjection illustrating them as 'inconvenient' to the nurse's practice. Concurrently, their relatives were afforded the position of substitutes. The discourse exemplifies how the behaviour or appearances of ethnic minority patients cannot be reconciled with the traits of ethnic Danish patients. Finally, we discussed implications that such a strategy may have for the provision of healthcare services for ethnic minority patients in Denmark.

Nursing in the 21st century: results of a pilot survey on attitudes towards nurses and nursing

Nursing is one of the most trusted professions, yet it is poorly defined. There are many definitions and characterisations of nursing. This study sought to pilot a survey exploring the views of nursing in the 21st century.

METHODS

This study piloted an electronic survey with open and closed questions. Descriptive statistics were collated for closed questions using Excel. Open-ended questions were analysed using the text analysis program Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) for tone, emotion and criticality.

RESULTS

This pilot study recruited 72 participants from professional and non-professional backgrounds. Respondents displayed diversity in their perceptions of nursing, the role of nurses and the role that nurses perform.

CONCLUSION

Nursing is a complex, multifaceted profession. The view of nursing was generally positive and authentic although not easy to define. Nursing was felt to be an inclusive profession; however, it is extremely diverse in nature. Further research is required to explore these concepts in greater depth.

‘Work in progress’: nurse educators' views on preparing pre-registration nursing students in Wales for practice in multi-ethnic environments

Nurses need to be adequately prepared to practise competently in increasingly ethnically diverse communities. This study explored nurse educators' views regarding the extent and nature of pre-registration nursing education intended to prepare students for multi-ethnic practice in Wales. A qualitative approach was taken with a purposive sample of programme directors ( n = 6), branch leaders and lecturers ( n = 25) and practice mentors ( n = 35). Data were collected through focus groups, interviews, questionnaire and documentary review. Qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis and three themes were identified: curriculum design and content, a theory–practice gap and personnel and material resources. Findings indicated that knowledge of the most effective way to prepare pre-registration nursing students for practice in multi-ethnic communities is ‘work in progress’ in Wales. Our findings raise questions about the extent to which the curriculum prepares students to engage with the Welsh social justice agenda. Improved clarity regarding what constitutes an adequate curriculum and improved preparation of nurse educators and mentors to competently and confidently prepare students for working within ethnically diverse communities is required.

Ethical issues in patient safety

The purpose of this article is to discuss the ethical issues impacting the phenomenon of patient safety and to present implications for nursing management. Previous knowledge of this perspective is fragmented. In this discussion, the main drivers are identified and formulated in ‘the ethical imperative’ of patient safety. Underlying values and principles are considered, with the aim of increasing their visibility for nurse managers’ decision-making. The contradictory nature of individual and utilitarian safety is identified as a challenge in nurse management practice, together with the context of shared responsibility and identification of future challenges. As a conclusion, nurse managers play a strategic role in patient safety. Their role is to incorporate ethical values of patient safety into decision-making at all levels in an organization, and also to encourage clinical nurses to consider values in the provision of care to patients. Patient safety that is sensitive to ethics provides sustainable practice where the humanity and dignity of all stakeholders are respected.

Health workers' attitudes toward immigrant patients: a cross-sectional survey in primary health care services

BACKGROUND

Health workers' attitudes toward immigrant patients influence behaviour, medical decisions, quality of care and health outcomes. Despite the increasing number of immigrant patients in health services and the potential influence of health workers' attitudes, there is little research in this area. This study aimed to examine attitudes of different health workers' groups toward immigrant patients and to identify the associated factors.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted with a random sample of 400 health workers from primary health care services in the Lisbon region, Portugal. Among those, 320 completed a structured questionnaire. Descriptive analysis and multiple linear regression analysis were used for the evaluation of data.

RESULTS

Most participants did not agree that immigrant patients tend to behave like victims, but about half considered that some are aggressive and dangerous. Doctors and nurses showed more positive attitudes than office workers. Among doctors, the older ones reported less positive attitudes compared to the younger ones. Health workers who have less daily contact with immigrants revealed more positive attitudes. Most participants evaluated their knowledge and competencies to work with immigrants as moderate or low.

CONCLUSIONS

Although health workers reveal positive attitudes, this study reinforces the need to develop strategies that prevent negative attitudes and stereotyping in health services. Efforts should be made to improve workers' competencies to deal with culturally diverse populations, in order to promote quality of health care and obtain positive health outcomes among immigrant populations.

Conceptualising social exclusion and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people: the implications for promoting equity in nursing policy and practice

Since the early 1980s, there has been increasing recognition that the health of individuals and communities is affected by social disadvantage. Following the election of the New Labour Government in 1997, social exclusion became a key concept in UK policymaking. Social exclusion approaches consider health outcomes to be linked to living and working conditions rather than, primarily, to healthcare interventions. Social exclusion is thus an important concept for nursing scholarship for understanding how people’s life circumstances may have an impact on their health. This paper analyses some of the theoretical underpinnings which may lead to recognition of the concept of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) social exclusion. The paper goes on to propose a model of the multidimensional aspects of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans social exclusion drawing on research evidence of the social, political and global inequalities experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people. In conclusion, it considers the implications for promoting health equity in nursing policy and practice.