Interpretive phenomenological analysis of ICU nurses highlights the impact of limited English proficiency on care quality and moral distress.
Key Points
Language barriers significantly complicate informed consent and symptom reporting for ICU patients, leading to increased nurse moral distress.
Nurses' efforts to provide care include building trust through empathy and non-verbal communication despite challenges with interpreter availability.
System-level changes, such as 24/7 interpreter coverage, are essential to improve care for patients with limited English proficiency.
A new framework, the Limited English Proficiency Moral Distress Action Cycle, proposes structured interventions to address language-related challenges.