Collegian
Volume 14, Issue 1 , Pages 16-22, 2007

Working With a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Group of Nurses

  • Yun-Hee Jeon, RN, BHSc(Nursing), MN PhD

      Affiliations

    • College of Medicine and Health Sciences, The Australian National University, Australian Capital Territory
    • Corresponding Author InformationDr Yun-Hee Jeon
    • ,
  • Lynn Chenoweth, RN, Dip Leis/Rec, BA, MA(Hons), MAdEd PhD

      Affiliations

    • University of Technology Sydney and Health & Ageing Research Unit, South Eastern Sydney/Illawarra Area Health Service

Article Outline

The Australian health care system exists within a particular sociopolitical environment which characterises its modus operandi and thus, the patient's and health professional's experiences of the system. Consumers' experiences are affected by their race, age, gender, ethnicity and class, and their relationships with health care staff. Health staff's experiences are largely affected by the interplay of the various health professions, manifested as power relations. This is particularly notable in the case of overseas qualified nurses (OQNs). With the growing reliance on, and acceptance of OQNs in Australia, the issue of their access to positions of power within the health system is worthy of analysis. This paper aims to provide a critical examination of the issues and challenges relating to the employment of OQNs within Australia and international contexts, strategies developed to enhance their employment experiences within the Australian health care system and their opportunities to contribute to the development of contemporary Australian nursing practice.

Key words:  cultural diversity , nursing workforce , overseas qualified nurses

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PII: S1322-7696(08)60543-0

doi:10.1016/S1322-7696(08)60543-0

Collegian
Volume 14, Issue 1 , Pages 16-22, 2007

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