Pakistani nurses working at Mater Dei hospital : a case study

Abstract

Aim: The objectives of this research are: (i) to analyse the factors that push Pakistani nurses to migrate (ii) to find out how Pakistani nurses feel they are treated by healthcare professionals and patients at Mater Dei Hospital. It is hoped that this study will provide an insight into whether Pakistani nurses are being treated equitably by healthcare professionals and patients, and whether Mater Dei Hospital needs to effect changes to cater for workers with different cultural needs. Method: This study adopted a qualitative multi-method approach to collect data. Feminist standpoint theory in conjunction with institutional ethnography enabled me to explore the experiences of Pakistani nurses working at Mater Dei Hospital. A total of ten Pakistani nurses were interviewed, which included five females and five male informants. Critical race and intersectional theory facilitated data analysis which was carried out using a thematic analysis approach. Findings: The three major themes that emerged from the research findings were a feeling of disillusionment that came from the fact that nurses’ skills were devalued when they came to Malta. These respondents were constantly reminded that they were outsiders, and this affected their access to their rights as workers and citizens. The study demonstrates that the Maltese healthcare system has to invest in a cultural adaptative programmes that prepares both local and migrant nurses to work together. In order to ameliorate the service, addressing these issues would certainly improve the relationship of local and migrant nurses and ultimately improve the delivery of optimal quality of care to patients.