Sykepleierens interkulturelle kompetanse på et somatisk sykehus

Background: World globalization is a quickly developing phenomenon. Only in Norway by 01.01.2011 it was registered 600 900 immigrants. Nurses at the hospital get more patients from ethnic minorities than for example 50 years ago. Lack in understanding of cultural phenomena in nurse‐patient relationship can bring misunderstandings and menace patient’s safety feeling. Purpose: This thesis is about intercultural competence of a nurse working at a somatic hospital. Here I am trying to spotlight on how nurse’s intercultural competence can contribute to patient’s safety feeling during his stay at a somatic hospital. The objective for this study is to get a perspective on relationship between a foreign patient and a native nurse. I try to find out how a minority patient experiences his hospitalization, which factors have negative effect on his safety feeling and what the nurse should be aware of to prevent such a situation. Method: The method used in this project is a literature‐study. Results and findings: Nurse’s intercultural competence is about having basic knowledge about patient’s philosophy of life, his values and traditions included her willingness and ability to perform culturally sensitive care. It is also about respect towards the patient as a human and individual despite cultural differences. Patient’s experience of being safe will increase if he feels being seen, heard, understood and accepted how he is and who he is while hospitalized. Key words: «intercultural competence», «intercultural nursing», «patient experience», «feel safe»