A Phenomenological Study of Non-muslim Nurses Experiences of Caring for Muslim Patients in Saudi Arabia

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of non-Muslim nurses caring for Muslim patients in Saudi Arabia. The study sought to understand from the perspective of nonMuslim nurses what it is like to care for Muslim patients in a religiously and culturally conservative society. The study is positioned within a framework of theories about transcultural nursing care and is primarily concerned with the role of religion in the nursepatient relationship. A qualitative approach was used adopting hermeneutic phenomenology to understand the nurses’ experiences. Non-Muslim nurses from various countries took part in focus groups and both nurses and Muslim patients took part in interviews. The study has found that religious, cultural and linguistic factors have a negative effect on non-Muslim nurses’ experience of caring in Saudi Arabia which includes a personal impact and a practical impact on working practices.