Integrating the Russian émigré nurse into U.S. nursing

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Reform
• Immigration Studies

Background:

• The nursing profession faces challenges in healthcare reform, necessitating a diverse workforce.
• Increasing numbers of Russian émigrés, including nurses, have arrived since 1988.
• Russian-trained nurses often lack US-specific practice skills despite bicultural sensitivity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a project designed to train Russian nurse émigrés for US healthcare employment.
• To address the need for diverse nursing staff reflecting the client population.
• To facilitate the integration of foreign-trained nurses into the US healthcare system.

Main Methods:

• A tri-institutional project was developed, implemented, and evaluated.
• The project focused on equipping Russian nurses with necessary US practice skills.
• Training addressed specific gaps for practicing within the US healthcare industry.

Main Results:

• The project successfully designed and implemented a training program.
• Evaluation data likely demonstrated the program's effectiveness in preparing nurses.
• The initiative aimed to enhance the US nursing workforce diversity.

Conclusions:

• Specialized training is crucial for integrating foreign-educated nurses.
• Such programs can help meet healthcare reform's diversity agenda.
• Supporting nurse émigrés benefits both the nurses and the healthcare system.