Online Journal of Issues in Nursing
Volume 22, Issue 1, 2017

Nurses need not be guilty bystanders: Caring for vulnerable immigrant populations (Article)

Fitzgerald E.M. , Myers J.G. , Clark P.
  • a Ohio State University, BSN, University of Kentucky, United States
  • b [Affiliation not available]
  • c University of Louisville School of Nursing, System Educator in the Norton Healthcare System, Louisville, KY, United States

Abstract

Nurses face many dilemmas when providing healthcare to immigrants, a vulnerable population. Racist, rancorous dialogue can create a hostile care environment that may place patients at risk for substandard care. This article presents a two part case study about a Hispanic patient to illustrate both examples of inappropriate dialogue (Part I) and potential nursing actions (Part 2). The authors review myths versus facts about Hispanic immigrants and introduce activist Thomas Merton's concept of the guilty bystander, the nursing professional code of ethics, and Professor Joseph Badaracco's concepts of quiet leadership as practical tools and approaches that nurses can use to advocate for safe, quality, ethical care of immigrant populations. © 2017 The American Nurses Association, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Author Keywords

Guilty bystander Hostile work environments Tenacity Vulnerable/immigrant populations Incivility Quiet leadership Personal responsibility Hostile workplaces Joseph Badaracco Nursing education Rancorous discourse Thomas Merton Immigration myths American nurses association Code of ethics for nurses with interpretive statements Ethics Bullying Racism

Index Keywords

responsibility male doctor patient relation case report female human immigrant vulnerable population nursing education leadership racism bullying immigration work environment ethics workplace Hispanic
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85020127712&doi=10.3912%2fOJIN.Vol22No01PPT43&partnerID=40&md5=c122f01576e70e20713c34e6db8f1874
DOI: 10.3912/OJIN.Vol22No01PPT43
ISSN: 10913734
Cited by: 3
Original Language: English