Abstract
This dissertation details a qualitative descriptive study involving eight registered nurses working in one geographical region of New Zealand (Aotearoa). The aims of the study were to explore nurses' perception of Cultural Safety and any relationship between cultural and clinical safety.
Data were collected using semi structured interviews, conducted, recorded, and transcribed by the student researcher. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data, generating two major themes and five subthemes. The first major theme was: Cultural Safety is a critical foundation to clinical safety. The three subthemes were: Culturally safe practice is reflective of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, equity, and discussed most often regarding Māori; Cultural Safety in practice is an evolving concept; and Measuring Cultural Safety as a component of clinical safety is challenging and not yet done consistently or effectively. The second major theme was: person-centered care is integral to Cultural Safety and, therefore, to clinical safety, with two subthemes: Trust, respect and open communication link Cultural Safety and clinical safety and Institutional barriers restrict culturally safe practice despite nurses perceiving it has a relationship to person-centered care and clinical safety. Participating nurses described their understanding of Cultural Safety and perceptions of a relationship between Cultural Safety and clinical safety.
Culturally safe care is believed to be a critical foundation, and therefore a critical component of clinically safe care. Within these common perceptions of the relationship to clinical safety, is a recognition that both elements of Cultural Safety are essential; with Kawa Whakaruruhau specific to Māori, and Cultural Safety relating to all individuals. However, despite this perceived relationship, it is also concluded that Cultural Safety is not yet consistently actualised in practice, nor is the ability to measure it, as a critical component of clinical safety.