What can I do for you as a nurse?

"A nurse's care must always be patient-centred, regardless of the context". Idoia Fildalgo and Lucía Rodríguez, 4th year Nursing students and students of the subject Nursing care for human diversity, agree with this idea. As part of this class elective subject of the School Nursing course, they have learnt how to act in professional situations where there is a cultural clash due to diversity.

After having had a first theoretical part in which the students dealt with current issues that showed the inequality gap existing in society,"such as immigration policies or the migratory crisis experienced by Afghans", explains Lucía Rodríguez, they had the opportunity to go to the Red Cross and Villa Teresita to see this reality first hand.

"There is a big leap from theory to internship because, even if you try, it is impossible to be completely prepared for all situations," says Idoia Fidalgo. "We have learned that in our profession we need a great capacity to adapt, as you never know how the scenario you are facing is going to unfold," she adds.

As final year nursing students, the work they carried out in these Pamplona centres focused on finding out the health needs of the migrant population and, by searching for information on instructions at data , preparing a proposal of work to intervene on these health needs. "The main problem we encountered when we arrived there to present these issues was culture shock, as they are foreigners who, for the most part, have not received culturally competent care to get by in our western culture," Lucía says. To this, she adds, "we have to add the mistrust they have towards the health profession and how we were going to act".

Through this part internship, the 25 students of subject have learned about a reality unknown to many. "We live surrounded by diversity of all kinds subject, and we need to be aware of this and lose our fear of facing these situations", says Idoia. Both students agree that nursing is a profession that can help this population that suffers from inequality status , and "thanks to this subject we have learned to deal with this reality and to be able to provide our patients with the best care they deserve", they say.

But if they had to highlight one learning from this experience, it would be what it has given them at the level of staff. Idoia stresses that it is not enough to offer the same attention for everyone, "but you have to give each person what they need and in the way that can help them the most". For her part, Lucía left these centres with the desire to try to bring about a change in healthcare and patient care, "as seeing the dehumanisation in the way some groups felt cared for created a very strong emptiness in me". "At School and at the University we are trained not only to be good professionals, but also people with a basis. That is why it is important that as nurses we think: What can I offer you so that you feel well cared for," he concludes. 

Nursing care for human diversity is a subject within the framework of the University's Strategy 2025, within the axis of "Education Transforming", and taught by Professor Maider Belintxon, from department of Community and Maternal and Child Nursing. The aim of the course is for students not only to learn the theory, but also to be able to put it into practice at internship and learn how to deal with everyday situations.