Post-hire transitional programs for international nurses: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Workforce
• International Health

Background:

• The number and proportion of international nurses in Western countries are increasing.
• Existing post-hire transitional programs aim to support these nurses, but their evaluation is limited.
• There is a need to understand the current state of these support programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and evaluate the "state-of-the-art" of post-hire transitional programs for international nurses.
• To assess program characteristics including origin, evidence base, structure, content, and success indicators.
• To identify gaps in research regarding the effectiveness of these programs.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review of 20 post-hire transitional programs for international nurses was conducted.
• Data were analyzed based on country of origin, research vs. non-research articles, proposed vs. implemented programs, and program components (mentorship, language training, length, support, framework).
• Indicators for program success were also evaluated.

Main Results:

• Most reviewed transitional programs were not based on scientific evidence.
• There is a significant lack of research evaluating the effectiveness of these programs.
• Program components varied, with limited data on their impact.

Conclusions:

• Current transitional programs for international nurses often lack an evidence-based foundation.
• There is a critical need for more research into the effectiveness and best practices of these programs.
• Recommendations for practice and future research are provided based on the review findings.