Language Discordance in Nursing Care: A Narrative Review of Invisible Language Work, Cultural Safety, and Missed Nursing Care

Abstract

Globalization and increasing migration have led to greater cultural and linguistic diversity in health care; as a result, language barriers between patients and health care professionals have become a significant challenge in patient care. Language barriers hinder effective communication, negatively impacting patient safety, the quality of care, and patient satisfaction, and can lead to gaps in nursing care. The purpose of this narrative review is to examine the relationship between language mismatch, invisible language labor, cultural safety, and missed nursing care from a holistic perspective, in line with the current literature. This review addresses the effects of language barriers on nursing care, the fundamental principles of the cultural safety approach, the roles and responsibilities of nurses, as well as the causes, consequences, and prevention strategies for missed nursing care.  The literature shows that language barriers are not merely a communication problem; they are a multidimensional phenomenon that directly affects care processes, health equity, and patient outcomes. Creating culturally safe care environments, expanding access to professional interpretation services, empowering healthcare workers in the area of cultural safety, and developing supportive policies at the institutional level stand out as key strategies for mitigating the negative effects of language barriers.