Pennsylvania Refugee and Immigrant
Patient’s Knowledge Needs of
Over the Counter Medications
By Krista Maglione, BSN, RN, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Jersey
By Molly Tareila, BSN, RN, Critical Care Nurse
By Teddy Lau, BSN
Introduction
The population of the United States is rapidly becoming more diverse. In 2012 the U.S. granted 1,031,631 immigrants legal residence status (Department of Homeland Security, n.d.) and admitted 58,179 persons as refugees (Martin &
Yankay, 2013). An immigrant is defined as someone who is lawfully admitted to the U.S. for permanent residence (Department of Homeland Security, n.d.) and a refugee is someone who is unable to live in their native country due to a fear
of being persecuted because of race, religion or political/social beliefs (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees,
n.d.). The majority of refugees coming to the U.S. are from Bhutan (26 percent), Burma (24 percent) and Iraq (23 percent) (Martin & Yankay, 2013).
The arrival of refugees and immigrants into the U.S. can impact nursing practices. This is especially true for nurses
practicing in Pennsylvania; in 2012, Pennsylvania was ranked fourth in U.S. states receiving refugees (4.8 percent of
all refugees or 2,809 persons) (Martin & Yankay, 2013). Pennsylvania also admitted 25,032 immigrants (Department of
Homeland Security, n.d.). Individually, Erie, Allegheny, Lancaster and Philadelphia counties each admitted more than
250 refugees and eligible immigrants from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2009 (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
2010).
Winter 2014 Pennsylvania Nurse 10