The integral role of BAME nurses in primary care

We know nursing is a rewarding job, but why is practice nursing – particularly being a BAME (black, Asian and minority ethnic) practice nurse – that extra bit special?

I knew I wanted to become a practice nurse from my first year of nursing studies. I loved the idea of building therapeutic relationships with patients and their families, as I know familiarity encourages a feeling of safety and trust. Given these factors, patients are more likely to open up about other health concerns. However, one of the concerns I witness regularly is language barriers, which could potentially halt the process of health education and awareness. We've all come across research showing delayed cancer diagnoses and early mortality rates among the BAME community, so what role does a BAME nurse in primary care play in this scenario?

Almost 100 000 individuals in the UK cannot read, write or speak English. Working in Leicester – one of the most multi-cultural cities in the UK – many South Asian migrants who are among this group are in my care. These patients often attend appointments to decline important services – particularly cervical screening – unaware of its purpose and importance. It is this exact moment which can potentially aid early diagnosis and also improve early mortality rates amongst the BAME community – in other words I like to say it is a moment to save a life. On the other hand, I have encountered many women who attend cervical screening appointments for many years but have never known why it is done, what the cervix is, or what HPV means. Also, with high rates of type 2 diabetes mellitus among South Asians, one would think they would know about how their diet affects their condition. The reality is, in my experience, many years after their diagnosis they do not. All should be a cause for concern.