Overcoming Language Barriers Faced by Foreign Nurses: A literature review from a Finnish perspective.

Abstract

The global healthcare system increasingly relies on hiring foreign nurses to address staffing shortages, yet significant language barriers present challenges that adversely affect foreign nurses and patient outcomes. This bachelor thesis aimed to investigate the language barriers encountered by foreign nurses employed within the social and healthcare systems in Finland and beyond. The background highlighted the growing dependence on foreign nurses worldwide to mitigate staffing deficiencies, highlighting the critical role of language proficiency and the ensuing challenges within healthcare environments. Additionally, it introduced the Health Communication Model ACP as a framework to address language barriers effectively, thus shaping the trajectory of healthcare interactions and patient outcomes. A descriptive literature review was used comprehensively to analyze existing literature, selecting 16 relevant articles published between 2010 and 2024. The data analysis employed inductive content analysis, facilitating the uncovering of emerging patterns and themes within the data, systematically collected, and analyzed to effectively address the research questions and derive meaningful conclusions. The findings revealed significant challenges faced by foreign nurses due to language barriers in healthcare settings, including deficiencies in language proficiency, limited vocabulary, and cultural differences affecting communication while also highlighting its glaring effects on patient outcomes. The findings emphasized the critical need for effective language support mechanisms and interventions to ensure quality care delivery in healthcare settings, highlighting the importance of strategies like language training and cultural competency programs.