Graduation Year
2022
Document Type
Senior Thesis
Degree
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Primary Major
Nursing
Thesis Advisor
Patricia Harris, PhD, RN, CNS
Abstract
Background
This thesis aims to explore the difference in quality of care between those who are admitted into the hospital with a language barrier and those who are admitted with none. Communication was identified to be the most essential aspect of stable, effective, and successful nursing. One of the primary and most crucial roles as a nurse is to advocate for their patient, however due to this immutable health disparity the quality of care is spread so thin that those with diverse linguistic backgrounds are not receiving equal levels of care. When the efficacy of communication is lost, a nurse’s ability to connect and aid their patient will soon follow.
Objective
The purpose of this assessment is to delve into how healthcare professionals in the hospital can strengthen the bridge between themselves and their multilingual patients.
Research Question
Is the quality of hospital care affected for patients who experience language barriers compared to those who do not have language barriers?
Methods
This thesis contains a review of recent literature explaining the contrast in patient’s experience in the hospital who do not have English proficiency along with a proposal for further research.