3. Explore intercultural communication

Mary is a patient in a surgical unit who has abdominal pain. Eunice is a student nurse who is on an Erasmus placement and she is carrying out a focused history to assess Mary’s symptoms, Eunice will report the findings to Siobhan her mentor.

When you open the doors (departments) of this hospital, you will see examples where intercultural communication is not working. As you watch the scenario unfold please reflect on what inhibitors may have contributed to this breakdown in communication and learn more about how to be culturally competent.