Navigating Language Barriers in Linguistically Complex Settings: A Qualitative Analysis of Paradoxes in Nurse Communication in Acute Care Units in Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

This qualitative study explores how nurses managed communication challenges in linguistically complex Saudi Arabian acute care hospitals. A secondary analysis of transcripts from interviews with 21 nurses in Riyadh revealed the use of informal and creative strategies, including translation apps, non-verbal signaling, family interpreters, and an ad hoc system of sharing translation work among team members. In the absence of formal interpretation services, these strategies were essential but paradoxical, contributing to delays, errors, and team tension. Findings underscore the need for interventions prioritizing inclusivity, formal interpretation services, and clear guidelines, affirming nurse and patient rights to understand and be understood.