외국인 환자 간호조직 실태 조사

A Survey on Nursing Organizational Service for Foreign Patients in Tertiary Hospitals

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the status of organizational nursing service for foreign patients in tertiary hospitals in order to build up a database for nursing care policy development for foreign patients. Methods: The subjects of this study were nursing managers or department managers of international care center in 36 tertiary hospitals nationwide. Questionnaires were consisted of the items measuring the details of and evaluations for nursing care for foreign patients within the given organizations and any organizational support for culturally competent care. The data from 35 hospitals out of 36 were analyzed finally. Results: The organizational nursing service for foreign patients was rated 6.49 points out of 10. Organizational support for culturally competent care was 2.61 points out of 4. Challenges to improving nursing care for foreign patients were listed such as developing interpreter services and international care units without accompanying by a family member, improving nursing staffs' attitudes and behaviors for providing culturally competent care, and preparing various medical documents using multiple languages. Conclusion: In order to improve nursing care for foreign patients in tertiary hospitals, we need to be more aware of cultural knowledge and sensitivity toward the care needs of foreign patients.