Nursing Roles and Strategies in End-of-Life Decision Making Concerning Elderly Immigrants Admitted to Acute Care Hospitals: An Australian Study

Purpose: There is a lack of clarity regarding nursing roles and strategies in providing culturally meaningful end-of-life care to elderly immigrants admitted to Australian hospitals. This article redresses this ambiguity. Method: A qualitative exploratory descriptive approach was used. Data were obtained by conducting in-depth interviews with a purposeful sample of 22 registered nurses, recruited from four health services. Interview transcripts were analyzed using content and thematic analysis strategies. Results: Despite feeling underprepared for their role, participants fostered culturally meaningful care by “doing the ground work,” “facilitating families,” “fostering trust,” and “allaying fear.” Discussion and Conclusion: The Australian nursing profession has a significant role to play in leading policy, education, practice, and consumer engagement initiatives aimed at ensuring a culturally responsive approach to end-of-life care for Australia’s aging immigrant population. Implications for Practice: Enabling elderly immigrants to experience a “good death” at the end of their lives requires highly nuanced and culturally informed nursing care.