Intercultural competence in nursing and medicine

International teams shape everyday nursing care

How do you currently experience cultural diversity in the care sector?

Walter Heinrich: Cultural diversity in nursing care has been increasing significantly for years. Employees from over 40 different countries now work at AMEOS clinics, and at the AMEOS Institute nursing school alone, there are regularly 13 to 14 countries of origin represented. Diversity in the nursing and medical fields is growing particularly strongly, while it has been less pronounced in administration and therapeutic services to date.

Twenty to thirty years ago, international colleagues came mainly from Eastern European countries—today, the team is international, with specialists from almost every continent.Walter Heinrich: Cultural diversity in nursing care has been increasing significantly for years. Employees from over 40 different countries now work at AMEOS clinics, and at the AMEOS Institute nursing school alone, there are regularly 13 to 14 countries of origin represented. Diversity in the nursing and medical fields is growing particularly strongly, while it has been less pronounced in administration and therapeutic services to date.

Twenty to thirty years ago, international colleagues came mainly from Eastern European countries—today, the team is international, with specialists from almost every continent.

To what extent has the composition of nursing teams changed in recent years?

Walter Heinrich: The teams have become much more diverse. In the past, many nursing staff came from Eastern Europe, but now the team includes professionals from Germany, the Philippines, Indonesia, African countries, and Ukraine. In addition to their different nationalities, the employees also have different religious backgrounds. This can lead to practical challenges in certain areas—for example, when it comes to
dress codes or hygiene requirements.

This diversity also brings new issues into everyday working life, such as different views on clothing or hygiene regulations. For example, some employees are unaccustomed to having their forearms uncovered, which is required in clinics for hygienic reasons. Ultimately, however, such issues affect everyone—similar to the wearing of jewelry or certain items of clothing. This requires clear guidelines, but also mutual understanding and respectful interaction.

What opportunities and challenges do you see in this development?

Walter Heinrich: Cultural diversity offers great opportunities: Many patients at AMEOS clinics come from different countries themselves, and the multilingual staff often makes it easier to overcome communication barriers. Understanding of different behaviors or cultural backgrounds also grows when the team is open to exchange—which, however, is not always a given.

The issue of language remains particularly challenging. Many international nursing staff or trainees start out with insufficient German language skills. We now pay closer attention to ensuring that at least language level B2 is achieved before someone enters the profession. In addition, the tasks and roles of nursing vary around the world: in many countries, relatives take on basic care tasks such as
personal hygiene or feeding, while nursing staff are more involved in medical care and report directly to the doctor – for example, they administer IVs and accesses independently. In Germany, on the other hand, nursing also includes a high proportion of basic care. These differences often lead to adjustment difficulties when professionals with a different understanding of the profession start working here.