# Experiencing Cultural Safety in Nursing Care: A Focused Ethnography With Refugees

## TL;DR

This study explores how Laotian refugees in Japan experience cultural safety in nursing care, emphasizing the importance of spiritual and community support.

## Contribution

The study introduces a focused ethnography approach to understand cultural safety through the lived experiences of Laotian refugees in Japan.

## Key findings

- Five themes of cultural safety were identified, including spiritual sanctuary and culturally congruent care.
- Temples serve as important community health resources for refugees' emotional and spiritual well-being.
- Nurses can enhance care by integrating bicultural practices and addressing systemic inequities.

## Abstract

This study explored healthcare and nursing care experiences of Laotian refugees in Japan, focusing on their interpretations of cultural safety. A focused ethnography was conducted, incorporating semi‐structured interviews and participant observations with 20 Laotian refugees at temples, homes, and community events. Thematic analysis, informed by the interpretive lens of cultural safety, guided interpretation. Five major themes were identified: Having a place of spiritual sanctuary, culturally congruent care, hopes for holistic care within the Japanese healthcare system (body–mind–spirit), recognition, and equality from Japanese society, and receiving culturally respectful end‐of‐life care. Themes revealed how spiritual, cultural, and social continuity shape refugees' health experiences, highlighting both resilience and vulnerability. Nurses can foster culturally safe care by supporting spiritual and community spaces, integrating bicultural practices, addressing systemic inequities, and collaborating with families and community leaders in end‐of‐life planning.

Cultural safety in nursing care fosters refugees' trust, dignity, and participation by recognizing identity and addressing power imbalances within healthcare relationships.Temples function as culturally safe community health resources that support refugees' emotional, spiritual, and social well‐being alongside biomedical care.Equity‐oriented nursing practice requires reflection on power, collaboration with communities, and contextually tailored approaches to care for culturally diverse populations.

Cultural safety in nursing care fosters refugees' trust, dignity, and participation by recognizing identity and addressing power imbalances within healthcare relationships.

Temples function as culturally safe community health resources that support refugees' emotional, spiritual, and social well‐being alongside biomedical care.

Equity‐oriented nursing practice requires reflection on power, collaboration with communities, and contextually tailored approaches to care for culturally diverse populations.