Specificity of nursing care of Ucraine and Russian clients

Each year the level of migration rises. In the Czech Republic, we observe a sustained increase of variety in terms of nationalities, cultures, ethnicities. Among the numerous communities that can be found within our borders are the ethnic groups of Russians and Ukrainians. The influence that a person's cultural background has on their behavior in times of sickness and in times of health is enormous. Culture has an impact not only on a person's lifestyle, but also on the way in which such a person responds to, and should be treated with, medical care and nursing. Medical staff should be aware of the different patterns of behavior of members of various nationalities and ethnicities. The objectives of this diploma thesis are: identify specific aspects of providing nursing services to the Russian and Ukrainian minorities, and ensure that Russian and Ukrainian clients are satisfied with the nursing service in our hospitals. This paper is divided into two sections. In the theoretical part, the reader may familiarize himself or herself with the religious beliefs that form a part of the life of Russian and Ukrainian clients. This part also includes an overview of the history of these peoples, their migration, their assimilation to our conditions, the issue of barriers to communication, and the ensuing problems. The practical part of this thesis relies on qualitative research via structured interviews within the Russian and Ukrainian communities, and on quantitative research in the form of a questionnaire with which we identified the degree to which nurses are knowledgeable in the belief system of orthodox christianity, and their opinion regarding the necessity of a specific approach to providing care to Russian and Ukrainian clients. Four research questions were formulated, and have drawn answers, in the course of our research. Based on this research, we put together a nursing standard that should facilitate and improve the care provided by nurses in our hospitals. The results of this research, and this thesis itself, could be used in practice to enhance, and to improve the quality, of nursing services rendered, as a training tool for nurses, to present the results on scientific or undergraduate conferences, and for publication in professional journals