Exploring Retention and Orientation Data for Internationally Educated Nurses Transitioning to U.S. Nursing Practice

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Workforce Studies
• International Nurse Integration

Background:

• Healthcare systems increasingly recruit internationally educated nurses (IENs) to address staffing shortages in the United States.
• Effective onboarding is critical for the successful integration and retention of IENs.
• Nursing professional development practitioners require data-driven strategies to optimize IEN onboarding.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze demographic characteristics, orientation, and onboarding variables impacting IENs.
• To assess the relationship between these variables and IENs' orientation length and retention in a US healthcare system.

Main Methods:

• Secondary data analysis of existing datasets.
• Examination of demographic factors, orientation processes, and onboarding experiences.
• Statistical assessment of correlations with orientation duration and nurse retention.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in orientation length were identified based on the assigned nursing unit.
• The type of academic degree held by IENs also showed a significant impact on orientation duration.
• Key variables demonstrated significant associations with nurse retention within the healthcare system.

Conclusions:

• Tailoring orientation programs to specific units and considering nurses' educational backgrounds can improve onboarding.
• Understanding factors influencing orientation length is crucial for enhancing IEN retention strategies.
• These findings support the development of targeted professional development for IENs.