Desiring Shared Meaning, Experiencing Disequilibrium: Resource Team Nurses' Experience of Language Barrier in Care Encounters

Sunday, 28 July 2019: 9:50 AM

Niyat Mehari, BScN, MN(s)
Sepali Guruge, PhD, RN
Susan Bishop, PhD
Oona St. Amant, PhD
Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, Canada

Purpose: The diversity of the Canadian population is reflected in the many languages that are spoken, with over 215 languages listed. Language is significant in the discourse of healthcare as interactions between healthcare providers and patients is dependent on communication. Language barriers are discussed in the literature to be one of the leading factors to health inequities. Literature is clear on the importance of language in delivering safe and quality patient care, however, the perspectives of resource team nurses in dealing with language barriers in their care encounters has not been explored. This study aims to understand the meaning of resource team nurses’ lived experiences of language barriers in the Greater Toronto Area, Canada.

Methods: An interpretive phenomenological approach guided the study. Following research ethics board approval, resource team nurses were recruited using purposive and snowball sampling strategies. Eight registered nurses participated in in-depth individual interviews, which were audio-recorded with consent, and transcribed verbatim. van Manen's approach was used to analyze the data.

Results: Participants spoke about longing to build bridges between themselves and their patients yet frequently experienced difficulties in overcoming language barriers The overarching theme of a dialectical experience in the pursuit to understanding emerged from the data, which captured four themes: (a) Trying to Span the Distance, (b) Everything Comes Down to Time, (c) Desiring a Shared Meaning, and (d) Experiencing Disequilibrium. Findings highlight the following: (a) systemic inadequacies that nurses encounter when trying to facilitate shared meaning with their patient(s), (b) challenges and concerns of resource team nurses, and (c) the nursing job structure.

Conclusion: This study provides insights into resource team nurses’ experience with language barriers. Findings are important to addressing and ensuring cultural and equitable practices in the delivery of safe and quality patient care. Addressing linguistic diversity in caregiving should be a primary concern in nursing practice and research.

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