title: Culturaly diverse family members and their hospitalised relatives in acute care wards: a qualitative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the experiences of culturally diverse family members who make the decision to stay with their relatives in acute care wards.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative descriptive study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical and surgical wards in an acute care hospital with a 70% non-English speaking background patient population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight culturally diverse family members who stayed with their hospitalised relatives for at least four shifts or the equivalent hours.
  
  
  METHODS
  In-depth interviews of approximately 45 minutes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three main categories described the experience of family members. These categories were carrying out in-hospital roles, adhering to ward rules, and facing concerns.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings indicate nurses and family members could benefit from negotiating active partnerships; family friendly ward environments need to be fostered, supported by appropriate policies; and further research is needed into culturally diverse family members' partnerships with nurses in acute care settings.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Western Sydney, Australia. j.cioffi@uws.edu.au
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cioffi
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001315:Australia; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D005195:Family Relations; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012380:Role; D014789:Visitors to Patients / Q000523:psychology*