'Det var inte lätt i början': en kvalitativ intervjustudie om utrikesfödda undersköterskors upplevelser på ett svenskt äldreboende

The aim of this paper is to examine what role ethnicity and gender plays in the workplace of assistant nurses in a municipal nursing home in Sweden, and when it is of importance. This was conducted through a qualitative study where interviews were held with three female assistant nurses with differing ethnic backgrounds. The execution of these interviews showed that their own ethnicity plays a role in adapting to the customs of working in the nursing home, and the culture in which the care recipients are used to. This adaptation is not considered negative but rather seen as an asset in addition to the women’s own cultures. Furthermore, the results also revealed how the assistant nurse’s ethnicities are essential when caring for recipients with other ethnic backgrounds, however, it is crucial to not expect these assistant nurses to fulfil the cultural needs of care recipients, seeing as foreigners are not a homogenous group.