Journal: The American journal of nursing
This article presents a practical, person-centered framework for providing palliative nursing care to refugees, a population experiencing record levels of global displacement and ongoing resettlement in the United States.
The authors describe how the refugee resettlement process—marked by trauma, loss, and systemic barriers—intersects with serious illness. They emphasize that institutional racism, structural inequities, and language and communication challenges frequently erode trust, limit access, and compromise quality of care.
Cultural humility is proposed as the core guiding principle. Rather than relying on cultural “checklists,” nurses are encouraged to approach each patient and family with curiosity, self-reflection, and an awareness of power dynamics and bias.
The article highlights the importance of:
- Skilled use of interpreters and attention to communication preferences.
- Recognizing social isolation and disrupted roles, and supporting social integration.
- Identifying both cultural differences and individual strengths, including prior professional identities and coping strategies.
Within this framework, the authors integrate standard palliative care principles—symptom management, clear and compassionate communication, and respect for cultural and spiritual values—and apply them specifically to displaced populations. They argue that a strengths-based, culturally humble approach can promote dignity, foster trust, and improve outcomes for refugees with serious illness and their families.