Internationally Educated Nurses’ and Their Contributions to the Patient Experience

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Workforce Diversity
• Cultural Competence in Healthcare

Background:

• Canada's increasing immigration trends necessitate a diverse healthcare workforce.
• Health service disparities exist, impacting patient care for diverse ethnic backgrounds.
• Internationally educated nurses (IENs) reflect Canada's diverse population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the transition experiences of IENs in Canada.
• To describe the unique contributions of IENs to patient care.
• To explore how IENs perceive their role in healthcare.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study utilizing descriptive phenomenology.
• Inclusion of 11 internationally educated nurses as participants.
• Analysis of transition experiences and contributions to patient care.

Main Results:

• IENs perceive themselves as valuable assets to nursing and patient care.
• Their unique cultural perspectives can improve the patient experience.
• Findings highlight the positive impact of IENs on healthcare delivery.

Conclusions:

• Implications for nursing education, practice, research, and administration.
• Healthcare providers reflecting population diversity can improve patient hospital stays.
• Integrating IENs effectively is crucial for equitable and high-quality healthcare.