Facilitating Acculturation of Foreign-Educated Nurses

Abstract

The United States (US) is in the midst of a critical nursing shortage that is projected to worsen unless long term and sustainable solutions are instituted. The hiring of foreign-educated nurses (FENs) has been identified in the literature as one of the practical and realistic solutions to the current nursing shortage. Although small in number compared to U.S.-prepared nurses, FENs play an integral role in the delivery of health care services and contribute to the diversity of the U.S. health care workforce. The literature suggests that successful acculturation of FENs to host cultures leads to work and life satisfaction. Further, there is evidence in the literature suggesting that registered nurses, U.S. or foreign educated, who are satisfied with their jobs and personal lives stay longer in their current jobs and contribute to better patient outcomes. The primary purpose of this article is to discuss several recommendations and strategies that health care agencies and administrators can implement to facilitate a smooth transition of FENs in the U.S. health care system and mainstream society. These strategies and recommendations are derived from the reported experiences and challenges of FENs as they acculturate to host cultures. Further, to better understand how FENs became vital members of the nursing workforce in the US and other countries, a brief history of the hiring of FENs in the US and a brief discussion of the factors that encourage global migration of nurses will be explored. Recommendations for future research will also be discussed.