In today’s globalized world, businesses are increasingly operating with international teams. While this diversity brings numerous benefits, it also presents challenges in terms of effective communication and understanding across cultural differences. This is especially crucial in the healthcare industry, where nurses from diverse backgrounds come together to provide quality care to patients. In this blog post, we will explore the significance of nurse cultural differences and provide valuable insights to healthcare employers on how to successfully transition across these variations, ensuring seamless collaboration and communication within international nurse teams.
Nurse cultural differences encompass a wide range of aspects, including communication styles, beliefs about health and healthcare, expectations of care, religious or spiritual practices, dietary preferences, and perceptions of illness and wellness. Recognizing and respecting these differences within a team composed of nurses with diverse backgrounds is vital to ensure the success of your team and to guarantee that your nurses deliver as well culturally competent and patient-centered care. The cultural integration rate of an international team is based on effective communication, mutual understanding and trust, which will undoubtedly lead to improved health outcomes. In brief, understanding the cultural and social ecosystem of a human team will not only bring the overall satisfaction of your employees but it also translates into them providing better services and therefore, into having happier patients.
Transitioning across cultural differences requires a proactive approach to ensure the smooth integration of international nurses within the healthcare facility. Here are some key strategies to facilitate this transition:
1) Pre-Deployment Preparation
Before the nurses’ arrival, it is essential to designate a team member responsible for welcoming them on their first day. This person should have sufficient knowledge on how to onboard and have a minimum required experience at the healthcare facility to be able to transmit the knowledge.
Additionally, consider offering a welcome package that includes food items from their home country, as food plays a significant role in cultural identity. CWC Recruitment (CWC) provides clients with detailed checklists to assist in selecting appropriate welcome gifts, tailored to the specific cultural backgrounds of the incoming nurses.
2) First Days of Work
On the nurses’ first days, provide comprehensive onboarding that not only familiarizes them with their tasks but also introduces them to the team. Foster connections between international nurses by organizing team-building events or social gatherings to encourage dialogue and camaraderie among team members.
As a newly arrived person in Germany, language barriers might arise and this can be discouraging for nurses when getting to know local people. Implementing a buddy program is one of the strategies that allows people from different departments in the same organization to connect. Having a mix of both local and international nurses, it is highly recommended to combine these two groups and invite them to regularly meet (for a coffee, a meal or any other social event). On top of getting to know each other, international nurses also will also have the chance to practice their German language in a calm and non stressful environment. If you find yourself lacking internal HR resources to establish buddy programs, we recommend exploring several other alternatives that will enable nurses to connect with each other: make use of social media tools to create group chats, explore the options provided by local authorities or reach out to nearby churches for available social activities that could be recommended to your employees.
3) Long-Term Integration
To ensure ongoing integration, it is advisable to offer regular check-in meetings between the department/residential area management and/or nursing service management and your new employees in order to be able to exchange information. In some cases, facilities/hospitals already have international management representatives who play a central role in monitoring the integration process, such as integration officers. These individuals can provide guidance and support and ensure that integration is moving in the right direction.
Another recommendation is to use integration services offered by external providers such as Care Forward, one of CWC’s partners, who is specialized in supporting newly arrived caregivers. Care Forward’s integration course focuses intensively on teaching caregivers about German culture, how to use the language, and helping them master their new daily lives. The integration course is automatically offered by CWC Recruitment when Care Forward is contracted to organize the entire professional recognition process for your caregivers, but can also be booked as an extra service (even for non-CWC clients). Both CWC and Care Forward support the integration management after the arrival of the healthcare professionals in Germany, providing continuous support and expertise to enable a smooth transition.
In an increasingly interconnected world, embracing and effectively navigating nurse cultural differences is crucial for international teams in the healthcare industry. By understanding the variations in cultural beliefs, values, and behaviors, healthcare facilities can foster an environment of inclusivity, respect, and effective communication. CWC is dedicated to supporting our clients in their integration management efforts, ensuring seamless transitions and successful collaboration within international teams.
Remember, collaboration, cooperation, and communication are key to achieving team success. Embrace cultural differences, promote integration, and unlock the full potential of your international team!
Our team is always available to support you in any matter related to the deployment and integration of nurses through service@carewithcare.com. We are here to assist you every step of the way.
Find out more about our integration partner, Care Forward, at: careforward.org
News and stories about nursing jobs in Europe
Back to Blog
