Strategic Planning for Future Delivery of Care: Onboarding Foreign-Educated Nurses

Abstract

Caregiver competency to ensure public safety is an expectation for every health care worker within the United States. The current nursing workforce has 4.5 million active, licensed registered nurses (RNs), licensed vocational nurses (LVNs), and licensed practical nurses (LPNs). 1 The National Nursing Database National Council of State Boards of Nursing website. https://www.ncsbn.org/national-nursing-database.htm Google Scholar The Bureau of Labor Statistics projected in 2014 that a 50% reduction of that same workforce would be attributed to the upcoming retirements, escalating around 2022. 2 Registered Nurses Bureau of Labor Statistics website. http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm#tab-1 Google Scholar The nursing shortage in the United States is cyclic in nature and may need to be supplemented once again with foreign-educated nurses (FEN). 3 Buerhaus P Starger D Auerbach A The Future of Nursing Workforce in the United States: Data, Trends and Implications. Jones and Bartlett Learning, Boston, MA2014 Google Scholar , 4 Nichols BL Davis CR Richardson DR International models of nursing. in: The Institute of Medicine The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. National Academies Press, Washington, DC2010: 565-642 Google Scholar The Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommended in the 2010 report Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health that targeted educational investment in FEN is needed to promote nursing competency. 5 Institute of Medicine The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. National Academies Press, Washington, DC2010 Google Scholar Knowledge deficit presented by FENs show ignorance of the system of the new country, health care policies, and regulations. 6 Xu Y Facilitating adaptation of international nurses: need for an evidence-based transition and integration program. Home Health Care Manage Pract. 2008; 20: 199-202 Crossref Scopus (5) Google Scholar Successful FEN integration in the health care environment requires supportive leadership and targeted competencies operationalized at the organizational level. Caregiver competency to ensure public safety is an expectation for every health care worker within the United States. The current nursing workforce has 4.5 million active, licensed registered nurses (RNs), licensed vocational nurses (LVNs), and licensed practical nurses (LPNs). 1 The National Nursing Database National Council of State Boards of Nursing website. https://www.ncsbn.org/national-nursing-database.htm Google Scholar The Bureau of Labor Statistics projected in 2014 that a 50% reduction of that same workforce would be attributed to the upcoming retirements, escalating around 2022. 2 Registered Nurses Bureau of Labor Statistics website. http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm#tab-1 Google Scholar The nursing shortage in the United States is cyclic in nature and may need to be supplemented once again with foreign-educated nurses (FEN). 3 Buerhaus P Starger D Auerbach A The Future of Nursing Workforce in the United States: Data, Trends and Implications. Jones and Bartlett Learning, Boston, MA2014 Google Scholar , 4 Nichols BL Davis CR Richardson DR International models of nursing. in: The Institute of Medicine The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. National Academies Press, Washington, DC2010: 565-642 Google Scholar The Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommended in the 2010 report Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health that targeted educational investment in FEN is needed to promote nursing competency. 5 Institute of Medicine The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. National Academies Press, Washington, DC2010 Google Scholar Knowledge deficit presented by FENs show ignorance of the system of the new country, health care policies, and regulations. 6 Xu Y Facilitating adaptation of international nurses: need for an evidence-based transition and integration program. Home Health Care Manage Pract. 2008; 20: 199-202 Crossref Scopus (5) Google Scholar Successful FEN integration in the health care environment requires supportive leadership and targeted competencies operationalized at the organizational level.