Internationally educated nurses and resilience: A systematic literature review

Area of Science:

• Nursing and Health Policy
• Migrant Health
• Resilience Studies

Background:

• While general nurse resilience is documented, a gap exists in synthesized knowledge regarding internationally educated nurses (IENs).
• Migration presents unique challenges impacting IENs' professional and social integration.
• Understanding IEN resilience is critical for healthcare systems and workforce stability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and synthesize literature on protective factors and challenges to resilience in migrant nurses.
• To explore the relevance of synthesized knowledge for nursing and health policy.
• To identify individual, contextual, and structural factors influencing IEN resilience.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review following PRISMA guidelines.
• Searched MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Academic Search Ultimate for qualitative and mixed-method studies.
• Assessed methodological rigor using Joanna Briggs' checklist and employed a theme-based ecological framework.

Main Results:

• Thirty-seven studies were critically appraised and included.
• Identified numerous challenges faced by IENs in host countries.
• Documented individual, contextual, and structural protective factors contributing to IEN resilience.

Conclusions:

• IEN resilience is a complex interplay of individual and contextual protective factors, with a strong emphasis on individual attributes.
• Appreciating IEN experiences is vital for delivering quality healthcare and successful integration.
• Awareness of coping strategies, strengths, and supportive factors is crucial for all stakeholders to mitigate challenges impacting IENs.