• D Tuohy, J McCarthy, I Cassidy, and M M Graham.
• Department of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland. dympna.tuohy@ul.ie
• Int Nurs Rev. 2008 Jun 1; 55 (2): 164-70.

BackgroundOver the last 10-15 years, there has been a dramatic change in the population of the Republic of Ireland (ROI). Because of strong economic growth, a buoyant economy and universal population migration, the ROI has moved from a mono to a multicultural society over a relatively short period of time. Therefore, nurses in this state have limited experience of caring for people of a different culture.AimTo discuss registered nurses' experiences in the ROI of nursing people from a different culture.MethodsThe study design was qualitative and participants were purposively sampled (n = 7). Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and thematically analysed.FindingsThe main themes to emerge from the interviews were: dealing with cultural issues in practice; accessing and using the interpreter service; planning and taking action to improve nursing care for patients from a different culture.ConclusionSupport and education is needed by nurses to improve nursing care of people from a different culture.Practice ImplicationsRecommendations for practice are to: develop transcultural nursing education; promote an ethos of providing culturally competent and culturally safe nursing to people of another culture; improve resources available to nurses; provide easier access to formal interpreter services with continuity of interpreters for patients and conduct further research into aspects of health care in multicultural Ireland.

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