Latinx Nurses’ Perceptions Of Caring For Latinx Patients During Covid

Significant lessons were learned during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Latinx community experienced considerable losses during the pandemic, as healthcare workers stood on the front lines of defense during this devastating period in the U.S. They provided care to affected patients, navigated an overwhelmed and complex healthcare system, and subsequently became physically and emotionally exhausted. Building emotional connections with patients was often challenging due to their self-isolation, which limited physical contact and communication with nurses and family members. This study aimed to investigate Latinx nurses’ perceptions of delivering person-centered care to Latinx patients during the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City, NY, USA. The research was grounded in the Modeling and Role-Modeling theory developed by Erickson, Tomlin, & Swain (1983), which enables nurses to care for and nurture each client while recognizing and respecting their uniqueness. An analysis of in-depth interviews with Latinx nurses revealed four core themes: Communication, Socialization, Fear, and Frustration. The insights gained from the experiences of Latinx nurses can be utilized to educate nurses from various cultural and ethnic backgrounds in providing care for Latinx patients. These findings can also inform nursing care policy development by considering nurses’ perspectives on Latinx patients’ healing processes, which include language, food, family, spirituality, and socialization. The insights can help healthcare workers understand and appreciate the cultural diversity present within the Latinx community.