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Nurses’ experiences of encountering undocumented migrants in Swedish emergency healthcare

Frida, Gullberg and Wihlborg, Monne LU (2014) In International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care 10(3). p.148-158
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate how nurses’ working in emergency health care in Sweden experience their encounter with undocumented migrants.

Design/methodology/approach – A total of 16 qualitative interviews were conducted and analyzed using a phenomenographic approach, aiming at describing various ways in which nurses experienced undocumentedness.

Findings – The process of assessment involves formal regulations as well as interpersonal features,leading to uncertainty, conflicts and dilemmas when judging such situations. Nurses’ conceptions

concerned the undocumented migrants’ migrant status and social existence; second, conflicts in

encountering undocumentedness pertaining to an... (More)
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate how nurses’ working in emergency health care in Sweden experience their encounter with undocumented migrants.

Design/methodology/approach – A total of 16 qualitative interviews were conducted and analyzed using a phenomenographic approach, aiming at describing various ways in which nurses experienced undocumentedness.

Findings – The process of assessment involves formal regulations as well as interpersonal features,leading to uncertainty, conflicts and dilemmas when judging such situations. Nurses’ conceptions

concerned the undocumented migrants’ migrant status and social existence; second, conflicts in

encountering undocumentedness pertaining to an identification systems and judgments and emotional reactions; and thrid, shifts within and between arbitrary boundaries, with unclear conditions for interaction

and creative maneuvering.

Research limitations/implications – Further research is needed to develop guidelines or other structures to support nurses who deal with this kind of assessment in their daily work, to reduce ethical dilemmas and the risk of inequitable treatment.

Practical implications – Guidelines to support nurses need to be further debated and discussed and implemented in health care education, as well as in clinical contexts.

Social implications – Increased knowledge and awareness among nurses concerning migrants’ status and rights, might lead to better working conditions for nurses and thus more secure judgments.

Originality/value – Research with a specific focus on emergency nurses’ conceptions of undocumentedness and their strategies for handling the ensuing practical and ethical dilemmas has not been conducted in Sweden before using a qualitative method. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Nurses’ experiences, Encounter, Qualitative method, Emergency care, Undocumented migrants, Sweden
in
International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care
volume
10
issue
3
pages
148 - 158
publisher
Emerald Group Publishing Limited
external identifiers
  • scopus:84908453702
ISSN
1747-9894
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
4cc0cf22-4416-43b4-9ff2-2ea08b25012e (old id 4644793)
alternative location
http://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1108/IJMHSC-08-2013-0027
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 10:02:16
date last changed
2022-03-27 04:17:23
@article{4cc0cf22-4416-43b4-9ff2-2ea08b25012e,
  abstract     = {{Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate how nurses’ working in emergency health care in Sweden experience their encounter with undocumented migrants.<br/><br>
Design/methodology/approach – A total of 16 qualitative interviews were conducted and analyzed using a phenomenographic approach, aiming at describing various ways in which nurses experienced undocumentedness.<br/><br>
Findings – The process of assessment involves formal regulations as well as interpersonal features,leading to uncertainty, conflicts and dilemmas when judging such situations. Nurses’ conceptions<br/><br>
concerned the undocumented migrants’ migrant status and social existence; second, conflicts in<br/><br>
encountering undocumentedness pertaining to an identification systems and judgments and emotional reactions; and thrid, shifts within and between arbitrary boundaries, with unclear conditions for interaction<br/><br>
and creative maneuvering.<br/><br>
Research limitations/implications – Further research is needed to develop guidelines or other structures to support nurses who deal with this kind of assessment in their daily work, to reduce ethical dilemmas and the risk of inequitable treatment.<br/><br>
Practical implications – Guidelines to support nurses need to be further debated and discussed and implemented in health care education, as well as in clinical contexts.<br/><br>
Social implications – Increased knowledge and awareness among nurses concerning migrants’ status and rights, might lead to better working conditions for nurses and thus more secure judgments.<br/><br>
Originality/value – Research with a specific focus on emergency nurses’ conceptions of undocumentedness and their strategies for handling the ensuing practical and ethical dilemmas has not been conducted in Sweden before using a qualitative method.}},
  author       = {{Frida, Gullberg and Wihlborg, Monne}},
  issn         = {{1747-9894}},
  keywords     = {{Nurses’ experiences; Encounter; Qualitative method; Emergency care; Undocumented migrants; Sweden}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{148--158}},
  publisher    = {{Emerald Group Publishing Limited}},
  series       = {{International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care}},
  title        = {{Nurses’ experiences of encountering undocumented migrants in Swedish emergency healthcare}},
  url          = {{http://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1108/IJMHSC-08-2013-0027}},
  volume       = {{10}},
  year         = {{2014}},
}