ABSTRACT
This chapter’s focus is the relationship between nurses and immigrant and ethnic minority patients. Patients hailing from other medical systems than Western biomedicine may have a very different understanding of disease and illness aetiologies than do the nurses and have a truly holistic perception of body, mind, and spirit. Thus, illness and pain may be experienced as important spiritual or psychosocial aspects of their lives.
A central theme is individualism versus collectivism and the strong emotional connectedness between collectivistic oriented patients and their family members. This may lead to many visitors and family members’ wish to take an active part in the care of and decision-making concerning the patient’s treatment. Caring for family members is often seen as a question of honour and duty. Being unable to do so may lead to feelings of guilt and shame. How collectivism may influence the perception of autonomy is also pointed out.
For nurses to successfully promote psychological and physiological well-being in immigrant and ethnic minority patients and bolster their feeling of security and personhood, cultural competency is essential. If not provided with culturally appropriate care, this may cause minority patients to feel insecure or even avoid using available healthcare services.
