Эксперты Норвегии предупреждают: расизм в системе здравоохранения подрывает здоровье медсестер и качество лечения пациентов

In an opinion piece in the nursing journal Sykepleien, experts from Oslo Metropolitan University and the Council on Nursing Ethics warn that racial bias is still a taboo issue that harms both staff well-being and patient care. Citing various surveys and reports, the authors highlighted that racism is widespread across most social arenas in Norway, and healthcare services are no exception. "Racism challenges public health and is a destructive force in society. It also occurs in the healthcare system and in nursing. It affects people's lives and health and results in poor healthcare," the authors wrote. Workplace discrimination Discrimination is present at both structural and interpersonal levels within Norway's healthcare system. Minority nurses often face prejudice or racism from patients, families, managers, and coworkers, while minority patients can also feel discriminated against during encounters with health staff. A survey conducted by the same nursing journal showed how common this bias is. Of over 2,600 randomly selected members of the Norwegian Nurses' Association who participated in the survey, one in four people said they saw coworkers face discrimination, and more than 60 percent identified skin colour as the main reason. Of those affected, 40 percent said a colleague was responsible for the discrimination while 24 percent said it came from a manager. Another big problem is silence. The survey highlighted that two out of three nurses who faced racial harassment from patients did not report it. READ MORE: Norway appoints committee to review immigrant healthcare barriers Exhaustion The authors explained that facing racism and discrimination takes a serious toll on both physical and mental health. Frequent mistreatment usually leads to severe exhaustion, anxiety, and depression, driving many affected nurses to even quit or consider leaving their jobs. Norway is already dealing with serious staff shortages in healthcare, and this environment carries ever bigger direct operational consequences. This, in turn, directly impacts the overall quality of the public healthcare system. Targeting education The authors pointed out that racism starts before nurses even begin working, often during their education and training, where it is also rarely discussed. They said it is important to openly recognise the problem. “Literature indicates that racism in nursing is a taboo topic that is defensively denied. It is therefore necessary to acknowledge problems with racism in both nursing education and the profession, and to facilitate safe spaces and truthful dialogue,” wrote the authors. A popular destination for international nurses In recent years, Norway has become an increasingly attractive destination for foreign healthcare professionals, particularly from across Europe. While many of those already living in Norway describe major advantages such as competitive pay, reduced working hours compared to their home countries, and lower patient-to-nurse ratios, a significant number also report facing persistent racial bias. Are you a foreign-born or minority nurse working in Norway? We want to hear about your experience. Contact us to share your story. READ ALSO: Norway offers renowned work-life balance, so why are so many suffering burnouts?