The Challenges of Cultural Competency Among Expatriate Nurses Working in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background and Purpose:To explore the cultural challenges facing expatriate nurses working in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Women do not have an active role in the workplace in KSA. Concepts of religion, culture, and language are considered to be crucial and often the lack of women’s participation is attributed to these factors.Methods:A descriptive qualitative approach was used with two methods of data collection: interviews and focus group. The study was located in a hospital setting in Al-Riyadh at KSA. There were 20 non-Muslim nurses of different nationalities who participated in this study.Results:Several themes emerging from the nurses’ experience of caring for Muslims such as the inability to carry out nursing duties because of religious and cultural factors and language barriers. Most of the nurses have provided similar examples and discussed the same issues, such as patient’s families, fasting, and prayer having a negative impact on care from their perspective.Conclusion:There is a lack of expatriate nurses’ orientation concerning religion and culture. The nurses acknowledged the importance of language when they start dealing directly with patients and associated this language barrier with their inability to provide proper care.