EXPERIENCE ON NURSE-PATIENT INTERACTION WITH FILIPINO CLIENTS AMONG NON-TAGALOG SPEAKING BSN STUDENTS
Introduction: Philippines have experienced an increase of international students in various programmes especially in nursing program and medical program. This programs required students to have clinical exposure where the students are expected to have good interaction with the patient. The aim of this study is to explore the experience of non-Tagalog speaking nursing students on nurse-patient interaction with Filipino clients. Methods: A qualitative design was used in this study. A Semi structured interview also was used in this study. This study included seven main informants or non-Tagalog speaking nursing students (Emic) and six general informants or Filipino nursing students (etic) perceptions. The respondents were recruited randomly from one university in the Philippines. Data analysis was done by following psychological phenomenologist guidelines. Results: Several themes were established in this study: (i) translation of words which is a mean for patients and nurses to communicate their thoughts; (ii) the use of nonverbal (gestures, technology) to facilitate nurse-patient interaction; (iii) Importance of trust to confidence in giving care to patients; (iv) preference in giving care to English speaking patient, unsatisfied feeling when communicating with patient; (v) individual initiative in learning Tagalog which is a mean to help in communication preparation to Tagalog speaking patient; (vi) support from clinical instructor and Filipino friends are methods being used to help in communication; (vii) institutional support is one way to help the students in the preparation before clinical exposure. Discussion: For the non-Tagalog speaking nursing students, making friend with Filipino students is very helpful in supporting them and in dealing with the communication barrier. For the clinical instructors, to keep motivating and helping the students dealing with communication problem to help their students increase their self-confidence. Also, students’ evaluation in post conferences on nurse-patient interaction would be beneficial to the clinical instructor to gain knowledge on the experience of the students, especially to the non-Tagalog speaking students. For the learning institutions, it would be better for them to help their fellow non-Tagalog speaking students to increase their knowledge of the local language by giving Tagalog lessons specific for nurses, allowing the students to be familiar with the Tagalog words they might encounter in the clinical placement, and making them practice possible Tagalog conversations.