An online questionnaire exploring how recruiting organisations support international nurses and midwives undertake the OSCE and gain UK professional registration.

Abstract

BACKGROUND There is an active strategy to recruit international nurses and midwives to help manage vacancy gaps in the United Kingdom's healthcare system. International recruits need to pass a two-stage test of competence in order to gain required professional registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council: a Computer Based Test followed by an Objective Structured Clinical Exam. There is little evidence detailing how recruiting organisations prepare new recruits for these tests, and no set standards govern the support provision deemed necessary. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To gather and analyse feedback from recruiting organisations on the preparation offered to international nurses and midwives on arrival in the United Kingdom, prior to undertaking an Objective Structured Clinical Exam (OSCE) in order to gain Nursing and Midwifery Council professional registration. DESIGN AND METHODS An online cross-sectional questionnaire was developed, using themes taken from a systematic literature search. This questionnaire was completed by 17 organisations involved in the recruitment of international nurses and/or midwives to the UK. The data was analysed using thematic analysis. This research was quality assessed using the STROBE observational research checklist. RESULTS Four main themes emerged from thematic analysis of the qualitative data: SAME IDEAS DIFFERENT PRACTICE; PASSING THE OSCE; INDIVIDUALISED SUPPORT; SUPPORT NETWORKS. The limited response rate inhibited inferential analysis of the quantitative data. Descriptive analysis showed higher median reported OSCE pass rates when recruiters were grouped by shared characteristics (e.g., those offering less clinical practice). CONCLUSION Differences in how organisations prepare and support international nurses and midwives to undertake the OSCE suggest standardised approaches could benefit new recruits. These standardised approaches should be based on shared practice and scientific evidence. Broader assistance transitioning to working and living in the UK should also be addressed. This could be in the form of specific preceptorship programs following success of the OSCE. IMPACT STATEMENT Addressing an evidence gap, this research suggests recruits may benefit from standardised support around working and living in the UK.