Japanese nurses perception of their experiences caring for culturally diverse patients

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore Japanese nurses’ perceptions of their experiences caring for culturally diverse patients through a comparison with Korean nurses. Methods: A qualitative exploratory design with a thematic analysis approach was used to collect and analyze data. Using purposive sampling, 15 nurses (9 Japanese nurses, 6 Korean nurses) who provided nursing care to culturally diverse patients within the past year were selected. Data were gathered using semi-structured interviews. The six steps of Braun and Clarke were followed for data analysis. Results: Based on the data analysis, the following three themes were identified: challenges regarding the care of culturally diverse patients; important components regarding the care of culturally diverse patients; and deficiencies in nursing education for culturally congruent care. Conclusion: In the present study, Japanese nurses had less experience and provided fewer descriptions than Korean nurses regarding changes in thinking gained through experience caring for culturally diverse patients, and they also expressed feeling anxiety when providing care for such patients. This suggests that organizational support for culturally-based care should be promoted in Japan. Furthermore, our findings also suggest that education/training programs should be offered in order to enhance the cultural competency of Japanese and Korean nurses.