Minority ethnic patients in the Danish healthcare system - a qualitative study of nurses' experiences when meeting minority ethnic patients

The aim of the study is to investigate nurses’ experiences in caring with patients with an minority ethnic background. Qualitative interviews were conducted with four nurses in a hospital and combined with observations. The interviews and observations were analysed according to phenomenological methodology. The study showed three phenomena experienced by the nurses: ‘problems in communication’, ‘patients’ level of pain’ and ‘the patients’ food’. The results indicate that nurses need resources, such as more support in dealing with patients with a minority ethnical background to give caring. The study reveals unique information on how the nurses have different attitudes within the same phenomena. The results can assist in identifying what happened in the nurses’ interactions with patients with a minority ethnic background.