Conflicts between nurses and next of kin with an ethnic minority background: a qualitative study

Background: Through the years, the Norwegian society has gone from being a homogeneous society to being a multicultural society. This means that nurses and other healthcare personnel in Norway are having to deal with patients with ethnic minority backgrounds more often than ever before. When there are patients, there are usually next of kin. This means that nurses and other healthcare personnel are also having to deal with next of kin with ethnic minority backgrounds. Aim: The aim of this master’s thesis is to gain a better understanding of the conflicts that can arise between nurses and next of kin with ethnic minority backgrounds. Method: This master’s thesis is based on semi-structured interviews with nurses and next of kin and two representatives from two organisations. Thematic analysis was used in the data analysis. Results: Role expectation at Norwegian hospitals and other care institutions caused conflict between nurses and the next of kin with ethnic minority backgrounds. Communication caused conflicts between nurses and the next of kin with ethnic minority backgrounds. Family relations can cause both stress and conflict between nurses and next of kin with ethnic minority backgrounds. The next of kin experienced prejudice. The nurses expected that people who immigrate to Norway should adapt to the Norwegian system but that one should show understanding that people do things differently. Conclusion: Norway is becoming an increasingly multicultural society, meaning that the nurses will increasingly face both patients and next of kin with ethnic minority backgrounds. It is important to remember to ask the next of kin with ethnic minority backgrounds what is important for them and the patients since the nurses cannot know everything about every culture there is. The conflicts that are identified here do not only apply to nurses, and not every interaction between a nurse and next of kin with ethnic minority backgrounds results in conflict; instead, it is situational and depends on the individuals involved