The course of broken dreams: The expectations and realities of the life of Indonesian nurses as care workers in Japan

Abstract

<h2>ABSTRACT</h2><h3>Background</h3> Despite the contribution of international nurses to the health care services at a destination country, migrant nurses are not always employed based on their competency. Sending nurses to work as care workers in Japan might contradict the international migration of Indonesian health workforce policy which promotes the brain cirulation. Examining the life and work experiences of Indonesian nurses in Japan provides insight into stages of the migratory journey on a receiving country. <h3>Purpose</h3> The aim of this study was to describe the narratives and experiences of Indonesian nurse migrants who worked as care workers in Japanese long-term care facilities. <h3>Methods</h3> A qualitative descriptive method was employed and a purposive sample of 18 Indonesian nurses participated in this study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted among those participants who worked in long-term care facilities across four prefectures in Japan. Data were analysed using content analysis, supported by QSR NVIVO 10 software. <h3>Results</h3> Three key themes emerged from the data analysis: (i) broken dreams; (ii) surviving the struggle; and (iii) supportive environment. These three themes include the unmet expectations of the participants, their experiences as foreign care workers, and the support they received from their work environment. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Indonesian nurses in this study who migrated and worked in Japan's long-term care facilities as care workers were left disillusioned due to unmet expectations but able to cope with the challenges with supports from the institution and people at their workplace. International care workers with nursing educational backgrounds should be provided with opportunities to develop their professional careers.